Parents Are Getting Charges for Truant Children in Orleans County Vermont
BY AUDRA J PITTS
The Orleans County Vermont Superior Court calendar on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, had several parents who were at different points of answering the misdemeanor charge of Notice and Complaint by Truant Officer. Possible penalties for this charge are fines up to $1000. Some parents in this situation are offered court diversion, while others failed to appear in court and had warrants issued for their arrest with varying bail amounts set.
The Express reached out to Elaine Collins, North Country Supervisory Union’s superintendent of schools, and asked if she felt that bringing charges against the parents would help get these students back to school. Collins responded, “I don’t believe it will help to get children back in school, or that it will make a difference in any substantive way, maybe only in one or two cases.”
Collins also referred this writer to Samantha Stevens, whom Collins said, “Takes the lead in our Supervisory Union for truancy.” Stevens agreed with Superintendent Collins saying, “North Country Supervisory Union (NCSU) has developed new systems over the past five years, to help resolve those concerns without advancing cases to the court.” Stevens went on to say, “This includes partnering with the Orleans County Student Engagement Team, NCSU…
