Board corrects attendance language to match Indiana law, discusses chronic absence concerns

The Richmond Community Schools board reviewed Policy 5200 on student attendance and directed staff to align its language with Indiana law, changing a reference to “habitually absent” to “habitually truant.” Board members also discussed the district’s approach to chronically absent students and the limits of disciplinary responses.

Legal counsel and staff explained that Indiana law refers to “habitually truant,” not “habitually absent,” and recommended amending the policy language to match the statute. “If we change the habitually absent to habitually truant, we would have to have that,” said Mr. Cross (legal counsel), summarizing the statutory alignment staff recommended. Board members agreed to make that technical correction.

Discussion then turned to broader policy implications for chronically absent students. One board member asked whether the policy’s statement that students should not be suspended or expelled for attendance alone was a change in law; the group noted state statute provides protections for students while also requiring paths for enforcement and services. Members discussed nonpunitive responses (make-up work timelines, outreach to families) and how to address secondary classroom impacts when absences are persistent.

The board asked staff to correct terminology in the policy to match state code and to continue work on attendance-related guidance that balances accountability, supports for families, and legal limits on discipline for absences.

No formal vote was recorded; the change is a technical correction to align the school corporation’s policy language with the referenced Indiana code.