APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Appleton is just one vote away from reinstating truancy fines after the Safety and Licensing Committee approved the $250 citations by a three-to-two vote Wednesday.
City council will vote next Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.
It would levy a fine directly on students — not their parents — who don’t attend school for a whole year, or stop attending mid-year.
“If they have to have in the back of their mind that I may end up getting a citation if I don’t go to school,” said Appleton Area School District Superintendent Greg Hartjes, “We think they’re going to make better decisions about going to school.”
The fine would only impact about 30 high schoolers across the district right now, but may have a wider reach.
“We focus a lot on the 0.1% who pay the ticket,” said Appleton East High School teacher Corey Otis at Wednesday’s meeting. “But we don’t talk a lot, or at least I didn’t hear at the last one, about the 99.9% who feel encouraged by doubts… but need that incentive to come to school.
One Appleton West student says she rarely skips, but students commonly miss class.
“I think it’s a hard environment to be in for eight hours,” said Kai Rysberg.
According to the district, 29% of high school students miss at least 10% of the school year. This citation looks to discourage students from going down that path.
State law allows certain truancy citations that most school districts in Wisconsin follow. Those opposed say it disproportionately impacts minorities and low-income students, even if just a few students.
“I do still maintain my concerns… about the potential inequities that a citation could entail,” said Appleton resident Ben Niles, “Even if it does affect ultimately a very small minority of chronically absent students.”
If the city council approves next Wednesday, this would be a three-semester trial period that begins in January.
Comments