When student absences pile up, parents often pay the price, literally

Rochester Police Lt. Anne Gould heads up a program that prosecutes parents who don't take ownership in their children's education. (Courtesy photos)

ROCHESTER - When Lt. Anne Gould of the Rochester Police Department summonses parents to court for allowing their child to pile up excessive school absences, their responses run the gamut, she said.

"When I call to tell parents to come in and get the paperwork (it's formally a warrant), a lot of times they come in angry, they want to argue with me," said Gould on Friday. "But others just say, 'Whatever, I'll pay the fine.' I actually feel better when parents argue about it. But some have no passion, they don't even care."

Rochester Schools along with many city businesses announced earlier this week a partnership that gives perks to students who maintain stellar attendance levels. For those at the other end of the spectrum, like the ones Gould, a juvenile prosecutor, deals with, it can mean up to a $1,000 fine for parents who aren't doing their part in making sure their children get an education.

The law that allows parents to be fined for not doing their part in ensuring the kids go to school has been on the books for a long time, but it wasn't until just a few years ago that Rochester Police began using it after former Officer Stephen Gahan grew frustrated at the problem and researched the statute, RSA 193:1. The statute reads in part, "A parent of any child at least 6 years of age and under 18 years of age shall cause such child to attend the public school to which the child is assigned in the child's resident district. Such child shall attend full time when such school is in session ..."

Parents can be fined up to $1,000 for not complying with the law, but Gould said for a first offense they're never fined them more than $100, but the fine can double for each occurrence after that.

"We're always hoping that first summons will be the wake-up call," Gould said.

She said that most truancy problems never reach her desk as school officials and truancy officers get parents involved in attendance issues, but when they do, there's a serious problem.

"If parents are trying hard, we're not going to charge them," Gould said. "We charge parents who are not responding, don't care."

By the time the paperwork gets to Gould students on average have 45-60 absences, some in excess of 90. With just 180 days in a school year, "there's no way they can learn" missing so many days, she said.

In the 2016-17 academic year, some 40 parents were summonsed to court under the statute, including one parent who was charged with her second offense.

Gould, who has been doing this for four years, said the first year they just did the program at the high school, but since then they have widened their scope to include the junior high and even the elementary schools.

"I had one elementary parent who said they were at their wit's end and they couldn't get them to come to school," Gould quipped. "I don't get it; I can't imagine that with an elementary school student. I be putting them in their pajamas and taking them."

Gould said Rochester Police are one of the few if not only departments in the state using the statute, and added she has seen some success firsthand.

"The first year we did it we had one girl in high school," Gould said. "After she graduated she actually came to the department headquarters to speak with me and Stephen and she kept in touch with us about getting her first job, buckling down and even buying her first car."

Gould pointed to successes like that in support of the program but also credited the Rochester Schools and Superintendent Michael Hopkins, the truancy officer and others she worked with in making the program work.

Rochester Schools on Thursday announced its brand new initiative focusing on school attendance "Strive for Five," which challenges students to keep their number of absences to less than five during the academic year in exchange for prizes like a Chromebook and other perks.

But for parents who aren't onboard, Gould's work is vital, Assistant Superintendent Kyle Repucci said on Friday.

"Our goal is to not have to get to that level, but Anne does a nice job of following through when they do," he said.