truancy

I was wondering who handles truancy in your schools? I handle every single aspect of it at my school and that seems significantly above my pay grade. It's more of an administrative task.

Just curious how it is handled in other districts?

[cynmrn]

The principals are chiefly responsible for attendance issues, however we do have an attendance advocate that will do follow ups regarding high absences and even do home visits with parents. We deal with the attendance issues to a degree when it is due to a medical problem, but it still is ultimately the responsibility of the administration.

[JustBeachyNurse, RN]

In my child's district truancy is handled between the assistant principal and resource officer. The school nurse is the only one who can enter/declare an absence as medically excuse. If bogus notes are turned in (this is a MS/HS district) the nurse refers to the AP/resource officer

We have an attendance office, and if kids cut the AP's handle it.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

it's an administrative issue here

[ohiobobcat]

We have an attendance secretary, so it's usually between her and administration, unless there is a medical reason for the absences. Then I get involved. The attendance secretary (new this year) has been really good about forwarding medical issues to me for assessment and/or follow up. Because often times, who is the last to know about the new cardiac issue the student was admitted for earlier in the week? Yes, folks, that would be the school nurse.

I could not handle attendance/truancy and nursing care for my students. How many students are in your school?

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Administrative issue, but I will confer with AP as needed re ongoing health issues, 504s etc.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

Admin issues for our Dean of Students and principal, though if it is physical health-based, I may get involved. (Mental health based, the school counselor gets involved).

I have pointed out attendance issues to the principal and our student support teams (I am on our attendance email list) when I feel they are medically based and interfering with a student's learning and advocate for 504 plan for those such students.

I could not handle attendance/truancy and nursing care for my students. How many students are in your school?

There are 950 students. It's a time consuming task and I really feel like it is an administrative duty. I don't mind doing it since I like spreadsheets and data driven work, but most of the other nurses in the district don't have this responsibility and if I'm going to do it, I'd like to be compensated properly.

Any ideas on how to approach my superintendent about it? I certainly don't want to make it sound like I'm bad mouthing my principals or the other nurses by saying "Why am I the only one doing this??" but I want to make it clear that this is a major responsibility that is outside of my job description and above my pay grade.

[Wave Watcher]

Administration handles all attendance issues. I can't believe they have given you this responsibility!

[schooldistrictnurse]

I would present the amount of time spent daily/weekly on this task and show that these are hours not spent on nursing (the job you were hired for). Administrators understand data. I'm all for "we all work together" but this one is a little crazy to me.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

The other piece is, we are supposed be an ally for the family, and if you get into a tug of war with a parent over attendance, you lose that connection. Nothing like alienating a kid or parent when the kid gets busted for truancy.

The other piece is, we are supposed be an ally for the family, and if you get into a tug of war with a parent over attendance, you lose that connection. Nothing like alienating a kid or parent when the kid gets busted for truancy.

Oh, yes. They are not happy to get the letter that says their kid has been gone too much. And even thought there are 3 names besides mine on the letter, all the calls get sent to my office.

With 1300+ kids on my campus, there would not be enough hours in the day for me to handle truancy!! To the OP - bless your heart!!!

We have a data clerk that handles the attendance issues - reports are run weekly, notices are sent out to those that go over the min amount allowed to miss; once the notices go out the AP handles the rest and will send them on to truancy court if needed.

I only get involved if there is a question whether the kid left thru my office - When I send kids home I send a quick email to the data clerk with kids name, grade, home & reason in the subject line just so she knows who is a nurse sent home (excused) or leave early per parent for whatever reason.

It gets messy for me once the kid has gone to court - at that time absences & tardies are not excused unless doctors note or I send them home, parent notes are no longer acceptable.

I don't understand why you are expected to do this. This is not a health issue. Was this on your list of responsibilities when you were hired? I would never have agreed to begin doing this unless it was made clear that was part of my job when hired. Are you part of a union? Maybe something like that could help you either get that lifted off your duties or allow more pay. The only time any nurses in our district get involved is if they absences have something to do with a health issue like lice, diabetes, flu, etc. I don't know how you have the time either! Our administrators take care of this and any issues are forwarded to our truant officer.