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Schools Bracing for Walkout: Truant Students Face Fines of As Much As $200 or Saturday School; Student Discussions Planned

Posted on: Sunday, 30 April 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Gretchen Losi, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

Apr. 30--SAN BERNARDINO -- School districts throughout the High Desert are bracing for hundreds of students to skip school in a show of support for illegal immigration rallies planned Monday.

"We're hearing it escalate as we get closer to May 1," said Christine McGrew said, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.

School officials have been talking to students on campuses and, law enforcement and monitoring local blogs. So far principals within the Victor Valley Union High School District have learned they need to be prepared for possible rallies, protests and no-shows.

"The sense we're getting right now is that students may not show up or go off campus," superintendent Gre g Lundeen said.

The students who decide not to attend school May 1 might only be punishing themselves. Most schools will be concluding student's state testing that week. And because there is talk of possible protests on campus, student safety also comes into play.

Lundeen said he is already in regular contact with law enforcement about potential developments.

Seeking unification and direction on the issue, school officials looked to County Superintendent of Schools Herb Fischer for direction. They received it in the form of a county-wide phone conference led last Wednesday.

One major topic was discipline for students who choose to use the day as a way to miss school.

While the education code is clear on what constitutes truancy, each district has its own policy regarding discipline. One thing is clear, all districts will be enforcing it.

Barstow Unified School District students caught demonstrating or truant during school hours can be cited and face fines of up to $200 superintendent Jerry Bergmans said.

And in Hesperia, while the reason for their missed attendance will not be held against truant students, they will face consequences based on their attendance record district spokeswoman Debbie Baker said.

Citations and Saturday school are among the many disciplines expected to be doled out as a result of May 1, truancy McGrew said.

To keep students in school, Fischer encouraged school's to offer on-site activities to promote healthy communication and education on the issue of illegal immigration.

"There they can have a voice and share their concerns in a manner that's safe and productive," McGrew said. "If they wish to participate in other types of rallies and events they can do that after the school day."

Lundeen said several enlightening discussions over the illegal-immigration issue will likely be held in different classes throughout his district.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

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Source: Daily Press - Victorville, California

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