N.J.-S.P. Joins Fight Against Truancy in Starke County

North Judson-San Pierre Admin buildingThe North Judson-San Pierre School Board has agreed to take part in a program that they hope will reduce the likelihood of truancy among students.

During this week’s Board of Education meeting, “Project Attend” was discussed. The program is being operated between the Starke County Prosecutor’s office and Probation Department, along with the local school corporations.

Interim N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Bob Boyd says it’s designed to enhance the attendance of certain segments of their student body.

“So it kicks in a process after 10 days of absence during the course of the school year that involves the parents, the student, the school personnel as well as the county people in terms of the prosecutor’s office and so forth,” says Boyd.

According to statements made by Starke County Prosecutor Nick Bourff earlier this month, a step process will be involved that hopes to intervene with students missing class for an extended period.

Certain cases of truancy are remedied simply by providing an alarm clock to families in need. Other cases are referred to phone calls for unexcused absences with an intervention by the Juvenile Probation Department in Starke County.

Boyd says North Judson – San Pierre would partake in the plan if a student has unexcused absences.

“Then a meeting would be called to bring together the school people, the parent, the child, the folks in the probation office and work out a plan for how to get the child back in school,” says Boyd.

The Knox School Corporation agreed to the plan earlier this week.

The N.J.-S.P. School Board approved participation in Project Attend, unanimously.