Middletown Judge Unveils New Program To Make Truancy Hearings Private
MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Earlier this month, there was a lot of speculation when Patch published this Sunshine notice , letting the public know Monday night's Township Committee and school board would hold a joint meeting at the new Middletown town hall.
What was unveiled Monday night was an initiative to reduce truancy in Middletown public schools.
This is according to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, who was there last night: Middletown municipal court judge Hon. Susan Schroeder Clark ( see pics from her swearing-in in May ) introduced her new plan that will keep truancy hearings more private.
Truancy is when students miss too much school.
Currently, when a student has 10 unexcused absences from Middletown public schools, his or her parents/guardian can be charged with truancy, a disorderly persons offense. The charge requires the parents come to a court hearing, which is open to the public. However, things such as a medical illness, mental health issues with the teen, or problems at home are often why the teenager has missed so much school.
That is why Judge Clark proposed a new change to Middletown's municipal court rules to allow truancy cases to be heard in private.
"Extended truancy pops up more often than people believe or realize," said Perry. "Now it will be brought privately in a meditation hearing between a Middletown municipal judge, mediators, the family and the school district."
Clark presented her proposed change to the Middletown school board and Township Committee Monday night. Nobody had any objections. About 20 members of the public attended Monday night's meeting.
