After months with a task force, Tulsa City Councilor Karen Gilbert’s truancy ordinance is back before the city council.
Those meetings focused the ordinance on getting families into a new Therapeutic Attendance Court, which will connect them to social services they may need. Gilbert said schools will have someone present for court proceedings.
"So, they are aware of what the judge is recommending to the families and they have the oversight in the schools so that families aren’t having to go down on a weekly, biweekly basis to report to the judge on their progress," Gilbert said.
The therapeutic court would be optional and offered after schools show they have exhausted all their efforts at getting a kid back in class. Assistant City Prosecutor Hayes Martin said taking advantage of services offered will mean nothing goes on parents’ or students’ records.
"You know, if they show up on Oct. 1 and the school official comes to me and says, 'Hey, they did a great job. They didn’t miss any days in September. We’re happy with where they’re at,' they’d be done," Martin said.
There are still fines for people who choose not to participate in the special court, but jail time has been taken off the table.
The ordinance was on Wednesday's council agenda for first reading and may be up for a vote as soon as Oct. 24.
