Mother Jailed for Daughter’s Excessive Truancy in Michigan

A mother from Muskegon County, Michigan, was sentenced to five days in jail after her six-year-old missed 26 days of school.

The school district first contacted Horton on Oct. 25, 2017, then sent a second letter on Dec. 11, 2017.

School officials scheduled an intervention meeting with Horton for Dec. 21, 2017, but Horton did not show up.

The school contacted the prosecutor’s office on Jan. 22. The prosecutor sent a letter on Feb. 2, and scheduled a meeting for Feb. 21—and again Ms. Horton didn’t show up.

Horton was charged on March 5 for allowing her child to miss too much school. She pleaded guilty on May 17, but the prosecutor’s office agreed to suspend sentencing and would dismiss the case if her child didn’t miss any more days.

Instead, Horton’s child missed 14 more days without valid excuses.

On Nov. 16, Muskegon County District Judge Harold Closz sentenced Horton to five days in jail, nine months of probation, and $525 in costs and fines.

"When parents like Ms. Horton refuse to make reasonable efforts to address the truancy problem, our office is committed to making sure the children of our community are not deprived of an education," the prosecutor's office said in a statement, according to the Chronicle.

"Had Ms. Horton met with us, the school or service providers, she would have been provided any services needed to address any possible issues, including but not limited to transportation issues, daycare arrangements, counseling, mental health services or anything else necessary to address barriers in getting her child to school.”

After nine unexcused absences, school officials sit down with parents and try to solve whatever problems might be causing the absences. If the situation does not improve, the parents are referred to the prosecutor’s office.

“The first response is coming from the school. I am hoping that will get the attention of parents and keep us out of it.

Parents who do not get their children to school are referred to Mediation & Restorative Services and the Department of Human Services’ school-based Family Resource Centers.

“Additionally, individual schools are planning on how they will work with those students who do not want to be there,” Muskegon Area Intermediate School District Superintendant Dave Sipka told the Chronicle.

“There is no magic wand to eliminate all of the obstacles that impede student learning or the desire to be in school. I believe schools will offer some alternative placements for students as well—on-line programs, different settings, etc. Working with kids will still be a team effort.”

Skirnski’s daughters, ages 10 and 12, had been missing school regularly since 2015 when she signed a contract with the prosecutor’s office to not let her children miss any more days. Her children were absent the next day.

Amanda McEntaffer, 24, of Whitehall was sentenced to 15 days in jail by Muskegon County District Judge Harold Closz on March 16.

McEntaffer’s child had 31 unexcused full-day absences and 27 unexcused tardies, Maat said. Excused absences are not counted, he said.

Sarah Lynn Martinez was sentenced to 18 days in jail after her 7-year-old racked up three months of unexcused absences.

Elizabeth Courtney Miller, 35, received a 10-day sentence for letting her four children miss school. Each had an average of 26 missed days.

"We talked to this mother several different times before we decided to charge her," Riedl said.

Though the program targets the parents, it is done on behalf of the children.

"We want children to be successful," Riedl told the Chronicle. "Oftentimes, if kids are in school, they're not out on the streets doing nothing ... They have to have an education to be successful in their future. That's something our office is passionate about."

No one wants these parents to go to jail, Reidl explained.

"The goal of our Operation Graduation program is not to incarcerate parents," Riedl explained. "Our goal is to help parents ensure that their children get to school.

"But I've got to get the parents' attention somehow."