New Legislation: Introduce a bill to change the law, requiring a student to attend school until he/she is 18 years of age..

It is no secret that the greatest influence on youth is their peers. In fact, my work with different youth groups revealed that peers are the greatest influence on young people, followed by, in order: rap music, the media, partners and school. This suggests that young people today have a tremendous amount of responsibility when it comes to changing the minds, attitudes, hearts, and environments of other youth. We adults can give guidance and directions, but young people will have to be the ones to get real with their peers and show them a better way of living.

I would like to share some information gathered by the Children’s Defense Fund:

These statistics suggest that the needs and concerns of young people are being ignored and neglected. The longer they are ignored and neglected, the worse the situation will become. It has been said that "violence is the voice of the unheard." It is no surprise then, that young people who have been ignored or neglected act out in violent and criminal ways. We must recognize that this behavior as a young person’s way of saying, "I’ve got a problem and I need you to help me with the problems."

The Fort Myers Housing Authority TRUANCY PREVENTION INITIATIVE program hears the call for help. A Truancy Prevention Officer (TPO) is being added to our staff to implement the program. He/she will be proactive in this program and will work closely with all those in partnership with the FMHA. At the beginning of the 1999/2000 school year a written plan/policy will be in place to handle truancy at its infant stage. One of the components of our plan of course, is to reduce truancy. A truant student can also lead us to other problems that may need to be addressed in order to reduce truancy. The TPO will act as a liaison who will coordinate and communicate with the other agencies in our partnership. It will also be the responsibility of the TPO and lease enforcement officer from the Fort Myers Housing Authority to monitor students in every Fort Myers Housing Authority complex in regards to truancy and school suspensions. An alternative plan to school suspension is being formulated. One thing for sure, if a youth misses the school bus in the morning at any complex, a ride shall be provided to get that student to school. In the near future, other programs will be implemented in accordance with improving the quality of life for all who are residents in property owned by the Fort Myers Housing Authority.

1. Establishing an onsite classroom with certified teachers to work with suspended students. In other words, if a student is suspended from school, that student shall be required to attend the onsite classroom as if he/she were at their regular school.
2. School officials shall notify TPO when truant youth is having problems with other students. The TPO will do the follow-up at home with parent(s) and student. TPO will recommend additional services if needed to solve the problem.
3. We will be working with the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Court System with youths who have been involved in misdemeanor criminal activity. We shall be requesting Judges to sentence FMHA Youths to community service. Additionally, the TPO shall also review police arrest records to insure that FMHA youths do not miss their court dates.
4. Require a liability waiver for students to be signed by parent(s) or guardian(s) to transport student and parent to or from school. Also, sign waiver to have school notify TPO or any other FMHA staff member when student is becoming truant chronically.
5. School Attendance Court avails itself of in-school services provided by two guidance counselors, two psychologists, a mental health worker, and a parent/community worker. The school system is fortunate to have people representing health related services, which serves as vial link in getting proper professional help, not only for students but for their families as well. While at first glance, it might appear that Attendance Court is designed to punish families for a child’s absenteeism. And in fact, we may have to send a few families to face charges in court, the reality is that the court has become a useful tool to identify the needs of families in crisis, and to help us all find solutions. Our goal is to ease family strife that may affect school attendance by having parents come to school for parenting classes, drug awareness programs, and workshops on communicating with children. Provide clothes to supply children who miss school because they don’t have something to wear and getting eyeglasses for students with vision problems. We have realized in the past that some children don’t come to school because they are hungry, and maybe we can provide free breakfast each morning for all students (cereal and juice). In addition listen to students who complain about abusive teachers and investigate those complaints professionally, and thoroughly with the results discussed with the student.
6. Heed the warning signs by spending the resources to respond to the special needs of adolescents dealing with one of the nation’s most deadly diseases. "The children of parents suffering from HIV/AIDS epidemic need help.
7. And lastly we must provide POSITIVE ROLE MODELS.