Derby student tells board she was wrongly labeled truant after extracurricular absences

Vivian Stanton, a student and patron of Derby Public Schools, told the board she received a letter in July saying she was truant and that she must attend court and a workshop.

“...the staff member left a comment on the document stating, ‘this student does way too many activities and is under a lot of pressure to do well by her parents and herself. She does need to attend a workshop but needs to slow down at the same time,’” Stanton said, reading from the document. Stanton said the absences in question were for school activities such as band, cheer and yearbook.

Stanton said the timing of the notice — arriving the night before she left for a national Taekwondo tournament — caused “a lot of stress and anxiety.” She described the comment as “an opinion” and called it “outrageous and unprofessional,” and asked the board to recognize the seriousness of the situation.

Why it matters: The student said the truancy referral stemmed from absences tied to school-sponsored activities and described a staff comment she found disparaging. The board’s public comment script reminds patrons the board does not address individual personnel complaints in this forum and directs such complaints to administration; the transcript shows board members listened and did not take formal action at the meeting.

What the transcript records: Stanton said she was involved in band, yearbook and cheer and in advanced classes at Derby North Middle School and that the truancy letter alleged absences from those activities. She said she will continue to pursue the matter if the district does not act. No formal personnel action or investigation was announced during the meeting.