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District Attorney presents draft county truancy ordinance; court to seek legal review
Summary
District Attorney Carpenter presented a preliminary, Hermiston-modeled draft truancy ordinance and said superintendents were supportive. The court discussed exemptions, liability concerns and agreed to seek review from the county's insurance counsel and legal staff.
District Attorney Carpenter presented a draft county-wide truancy ordinance to Grant County Court on June 3, describing the proposal as preliminary and modeled after an ordinance adopted in Hermiston but scaled "for a smaller populated area." Carpenter told the court he and Bonnie Booth had presented the draft to local superintendents and principals, who were "on board," and said he wanted to "get the ball rolling" at the county level. He also stated that the state has repealed its statewide truancy laws and that the county currently has limited governance that applies to children under 15 for failure to supervise.
Court discussion focused on practical issues and liability if the county enforces the proposed policy: how homeschool and online schooling would be handled, 12th graders who have a GED and are working, and how first and second offenses would be addressed. Judge Hamsher asked that the draft be sent to the county's CIS insurance and/or legal counsel for review. No vote or ordinance adoption occurred; the item remains a preliminary draft for further review and revision.
