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Liberal truancy diversion program reports 49 cases since January; city to revisit funding MOU
Summary
Youth Empowerment’s truancy-diversion program presented results and students’ testimonials. City staff said the program’s funding involves a municipal MOU with the school district and county and that the city’s $60,000 share is under review.
Officials and program staff updated the commission on Liberal’s truancy diversion program, outlining how the program works and the current funding question involving a multi-party memorandum of understanding.
Candy Archuleta, director of Youth Empowerment, said the city’s support has enabled the Student Success Program to re-engage truant students with mentorship, academic supports and diversion from court. Luis Martinez, a truancy officer, explained the program’s structure: the diversion is voluntary, typically 14 weeks divided into three phases (Phase 1: six weeks with weekly appearances; Phase 2: six weeks with appearances every other week; Phase 3: 30 days). Martinez said the goal is to “avoid getting in trouble with court or with the school” and to scrub the truancy record upon successful completion.
Program staff brought students to speak. Adrian Chavez, a student in the program, said, “They’ve really helped me out. I’ve got my grades up significantly. I’m going to school a lot more. I was missing a lot of school, but ever since I’ve been in the truancy, I’ve not missed a single day of school so far.” A student who graduated the program described gaining confidence and improving attendance and grades.
Since January, Archuleta said, the program has offered the diversion to 49 cases. The city manager confirmed the city is one of the primary funding entities and that the city budget includes $60,000 this year from a 1¢ sales-tax crime-prevention line. The manager told commissioners she will meet with the school district and county to resolve where the program should sit financially; staff said there is an existing MOU involving the county, the school district and the city and that the total MOU amount discussed previously is approximately $72,000. No formal funding action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will follow up with partners and return with budget clarifications before nonprofit funding hearings.
