A truancy officer visited a local residence this week to speak with a woman named Ronda, whose 17-year-old son has not attended school for the past month. The conversation, which took place in the afternoon, highlights growing community concerns about student absenteeism and the legal implications for parents.
The officer approached Ronda to discuss her son’s prolonged absence. When asked, Ronda acknowledged that her child had not been attending classes, explaining, “I haven’t sent him to school yet.” The officer informed her that the school had reported no communication from her regarding the situation.
At that point, the officer cautioned that the issue had escalated to the level of truancy, a legal matter that could lead to court involvement if the family failed to act. “If you don’t get in contact with the school right now to inform them of what’s going on, they’re going to send you to court,” the officer said.
Surprised by the seriousness of the matter, Ronda responded that she would call her son’s teacher immediately, saying, “I didn’t even realize that. Okay, I’ll call his teacher.”
Before leaving, the officer asked to verify Ronda’s identification and to ensure that her son was safe. Ronda confirmed that her son was at home and agreed to show proof of ID from her phone.
The encounter ended with a routine check-in report, as the officer confirmed communication with dispatch and noted the time of contact.
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