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Title: Mom Arrested, Shackled, Jailed Because Her Honor Roll Son Had 3 Unexcused Absences at School (editor Stone, mother lied it is actually 12 unexcused absences)
Source:
Counter Current News/WTOC
URL Source: http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/ ... -unexcused-absences-at-school/
Published: Oct 25, 2015
Author: John Vibes
Post Date: 2015-10-25 14:38:04 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 9219
Comments: 62
Screven County, Georgia – Mother and substitute teacher Julie Giles was arrested this week because her son had too many unexcused absences from public school.
Writing on her Facebook page before turning herself in, Giles said “If anyone feels the need to go public with this feel free to do so….the facts are Sam originally had what they consider 12 unexcused absences, 6 are allowed per year, so he had 6 more than is acceptable, but the doctor reissued 3 excuses that Sam didn’t turn in, so basically I am being arrested for THREE days.”
She also noted that her child has all A’s and B’s in school.
WTOC’s Don Logana contacted Screven County Schools Superintendent William Bland, who told him that the school district is working within the law.
“It’s important for these children to be in school and I think the courts recognize that,” he said.
Logana also learned during his investigation that several other parents have been convicted for the same offense at this school this year alone.
Luckily, Giles was quickly released, but now she will still need to appear in court to defend herself.
“I am home. I was actually placed in ankle shackles!! I was told that doing so is procedure. I was respectful and followed directions. Sheriff Mike Kile allowed me to leave after being booked and photographed without having to call a bondsman. I will call tomorrow to get my court date. Thanks for the support!!” Giles wrote to WTOC when she returned home.
This is what public education looks like in a police state.
Article by John Vibes from The Free Thought Project. John is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war. In addition to his writing and activist work he organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference, which features top caliber speakers and whistle-blowers from all over the world. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can find his 65 chapter Book entitled “Alchemy of the Timeless Renaissance” at bookpatch.com. 
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 57.
#50. To: Deckard, misterwhite, A K A Stone (#0)
He allegedly had 12 unexcused absences. 5 absences would be considered excused upon the timely submission of a parent's note. Were 5 such notes submitted, then he had 7 unexcused absences. The mother now alleges that "the doctor reissued 3 excuses that Sam didn’t turn in, so basically I am being arrested for THREE days." Wrong. In order for an absence to be excused, the student must present the written excuse within three school days after returning to school. In any case, the "re-issued" doctor's notes did not exist at the time of charge and arrest. http://www.screven.k12.ga.us/ourpages/auto/2015/6/18/34327102/2014-15%20Student%20Handbook.pdf Excuses for absences shall be furnished in writing, must be signed by the student’s parent or guardian and shall specifi cally state the dates and reasons for the absence. Excuses written by parents will be accepted for up to (5) five absences total. Any absence thereafter will require additional documentation (as required by the principal or designee) or it will be UNEXCUSED. In order for any absence to be excused, the student must present the written excuse within three (3) school days after returning to school. http://www.people.com/article/mom-arrested-sons-sick-days-says-parents-should-be-able-write-notes Mom Arrested over Son's Sick Days: 'The Parent Should Be Able to Write the Note' By Hilary Shenfeld Any doctor's note(s) that may have been reissued were not file with the school at the time of the arrest. The arrest was for 12 unexcused absences, or 7 excess unexcused absences if there were 5 timely submitted notes from the parent. http://www.sylvaniatelephone.com/news/2015-07-16/judge-seeks-more-input-school-attendance-policy By: Enoch Autry A parent whose child reportedly had excessive unexcused absences during the 2014-2015 school year had her day in court Tuesday as her attorney contended the policy that the Screven County school system followed is not clear enough and that is takes fundamental rights away from parents and their children. Screven County State Court Judge Grady Reddick, after hearing from the school system and the defense for 43-year-old Julie Scott Giles during arraignment, requested both sides provide additional materials for him to review. The position of the school system was presented by county solicitor general Evelyn Hubbard, who must provide a document with the guidelines of when disciplinary steps are taken because of excessive unexcused absences. Giles and her attorney David Delugas of the National Association of Parents must provide documentation to the judge on how they would improve the local version of the protocol that is a directive from the state of Georgia and the state department of education. When Giles was charged with a count of failure to comply with mandatory school attendance, Giles was interviewed by multiple national television broadcasts and national publications. Giles was on Fox Network’s Fox & Friends and Nancy Grace and her story was picked up by People Magazine. Giles was one of 10 parents during the 2014-2015 school year to be arrested for the school attendance compliance policy. The two sides in the court case must have their documentation to Judge Reddick by Aug. 11, which will be week after the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Superintendent William Bland was not in attendance at the arraignment as he and school administrators were at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders conference on Jekyll Island. Upon being contacted by the Sylvania Telephone Tuesday afternoon, Bland said the school system will comply with the court recommendations as long as those recommendations are in line with state requirements and approved by Judge William E. Woodrum, Superior Court Judge, who chairs the local protocol attendance committee that involves 14 agencies. According to the current protocol -- 1. Mandatory education for children between ages six and 16 (c) Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children and who violates this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. Each day’s absence from school in violation of this part after the child’s school system notifies the parent, guardian, or other person who has control or charge of a child of five unexcused days of absence for a child shall constitute a separate offense. § 20-2-690. 2. Establishment of student attendance protocol committee; membership and protocol; summary of penalties for failure to comply; reporting (a) The chief judge of the superior court of each county shall establish a student attendance protocol committee for its county. The purpose of the committee shall be to ensure coordination and cooperation among officials, agencies, and programs involved in compulsory attendance issues, to reduce the number of unexcused absences from school, and to increase the percentage of students present to take tests which are required to be administered under the laws of this state. The chief judge is responsible for ensuring that all members of the committee are notified of their responsibility to the committee and shall call the first meeting of the committee in each county. The committee shall elect a chairperson and may elect other officers. (b) Each local board of education shall participate in, consider, and make publicly available, including but not limited to posting in a conspicuous location, its decision regarding the recommendations of the committee as provided in this Code section. Independent school systems may participate in the committee in the county where the system is located. Independent school systems whose geographic area encompasses more than one county may select one of such counties in which to participate. In Delugas’ request to dismiss the charge against Giles, the attorney said the local policy should contain language that affords a parent to keep a child out of school if that child has satisficatory academic standing. Giles’ child is an honor roll student. The attorney argued that if the protocol process begins with five unexecused absences, then what happens if a parent’s vehicle has a flat tire on the way to school or “Little Johnny’s pants rip” and he has to return home. Or if the child misses a bus. Delugas questioned who will be the ones to determine whether these situations can be validated. “Do I have to bring a note from an auto repair shop to the school?” he asked. Hubbard said the policy has wordage that affords parents the opportunity to speak with school officials to explain situations about students’ missed school days. “This is fixable,” Delugas said of the policy. “I am not throwing rocks at the school board. Let the school board know it was a good effort, but go back and rewrite this.” OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED § 20-2-701 TITLE 20. EDUCATION O.C.G.A. § 20-2-701 (2015) § 20-2-701. Responsibility for reporting truants to juvenile or other courts Local school superintendents as applied to private schools, the Department of Education as applied to home study programs, or visiting teachers and attendance officers as applied to public schools, after written notice to the parent or guardian of a child, shall report to the juvenile or other court having jurisdiction under Chapter 11 of Title 15 any child who is absent from a public or private school or a home study program in violation of this subpart. If the judge of the court places such child in a home or in a public or private institution pursuant to Chapter 11 of Title 15, school shall be provided for such child. The Department of Education shall coordinate with local school superintendents with respect to attendance records and notification for students in home study programs. - - - - - OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED § 20-2-690.2 TITLE 20. EDUCATION O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.2 (2015) § 20-2-690.2. Establishment of student attendance protocol committee; membership and protocol; summary of penalties for failure to comply; reporting (a) The chief judge of the superior court of each county shall establish a student attendance protocol committee for its county. The purpose of the committee shall be to ensure coordination and cooperation among officials, agencies, and programs involved in compulsory attendance issues, to reduce the number of unexcused absences from school, and to increase the percentage of students present to take tests which are required to be administered under the laws of this state. The chief judge is responsible for ensuring that all members of the committee are notified of their responsibility to the committee and shall call the first meeting of the committee in each county. The committee shall elect a chairperson and may elect other officers. (b) Each local board of education shall participate in, consider, and make publicly available, including but not limited to posting in a conspicuous location, its decision regarding the recommendations of the committee as provided in this Code section. Independent school systems may participate in the committee in the county where the system is located. Independent school systems whose geographic area encompasses more than one county may select one of such counties in which to participate. An independent school system that elects not to participate in the committee of the county where it is located shall request that the chief judge of the superior court of a county encompassed by its geographic area to establish an independent student attendance protocol committee in the same manner as established for the county school system. (c) Each of the following agencies, officials, or programs shall designate a representative to serve on the committee: (2) The juvenile court judge or judges of the county; (3) The district attorney for the county; (4) The solicitor-general of state court, if the county has a state court; (5) The Department of Juvenile Justice, which may include representatives from area juvenile detention facilities as defined in Code Section 49-4A-1; (6) The superintendent, a certificated school employee, and a local school board member from each public school system in the county and a certificated school social worker from each public school system, if any are employed by the school system; (7) The sheriff of the county; (8) The chief of police of the county police department; (9) The chief of police of each municipal police department in the county; (10) The county department of family and children services; (11) The county board of health; (12) The county mental health organization; (13) The county Family Connection commission, board, or authority, or other county agency, board, authority, or commission having the duty and authority to study problems of families, children, and youth and provide services to families, children, and youth; and (14) The court approved community based risk reduction program established by the juvenile court in accordance with Code Section 15-11-38, if such a program has been established. (d) The committee thus established may appoint such additional members as necessary and proper to accomplish the purposes of the committee. (e) Each committee shall, by June 1, 2005, adopt a written student attendance protocol for its county school system and for each independent school system within its geographic boundaries which shall be filed with the Department of Education. The protocol shall outline in detail the procedures to be used in identifying, reporting, investigating, and prosecuting cases of alleged violations of Code Section 20-2-690.1, relating to mandatory school attendance. The protocol shall outline in detail methods for determining the causes of failing to comply with compulsory attendance and appropriately addressing the issue with children and their parents or guardians. The protocol shall also include recommendations for policies relating to tardiness. The Department of Education shall provide model school attendance protocols, if requested by the committee. (f) A copy of the protocol shall be furnished to each agency, official, or program within the county that has any responsibility in assisting children and their parents or guardians in complying with Code Section 20-2-690.1. (g) The committee shall write the summary of possible consequences and penalties for failing to comply with compulsory attendance under Code Section 20-2-690.1 for children and their parents, guardians, or other persons who have control or charge of children for distribution by schools in accordance with Code Section 20-2-690.1. The summary of possible consequences for children shall include possible dispositions for children in need of services and possible denial of a driver's license for a child in accordance with Code Section 40-5-22. (h) The committee shall continue in existence after writing the student attendance protocol. The chief judge of the superior court of each county shall ensure that the committee meets at least quarterly during the first year, and twice annually thereafter, to evaluate compliance with the protocol, effectiveness of the protocol, and appropriate modifications. (i) Each local board of education shall report student attendance rates to the committee and the State Board of Education at the end of each school year, according to a schedule established by the State Board of Education.
You do go on.
#61. To: misterwhite (#57)
When responding to half-truths and incorrect assertions, I like to present the actual laws/regulations from official sources. For example, you can choose that the mother says that 6 unexcused absences are allowed, or you can choose the official publication of the actual policy.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Writing on her Facebook page before turning herself in, Giles said “If anyone feels the need to go public with this feel free to do so….the facts are Sam originally had what they consider 12 unexcused absences, 6 are allowed per year, so he had 6 more than is acceptable, but the doctor reissued 3 excuses that Sam didn’t turn in, so basically I am being arrested for THREE days.”
Excuses
People
05/27/2015 AT 08:30 AM EDT Giles says in some cases she did take Samuel to physicians and, once, to the ER. She received doctor's notes for each of those visits. ("I don't know if Samuel failed to give them to the school, or they lost them," she says.) Other times, however, she didn't want to pay the insurance co-pay if she could handle caring for her son herself.
Judge seeks more input on school attendance policy
Posted: Thu, 07/16/2015 - 4:02pm O.C.G.A. § 20-2-701
CHAPTER 2. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 16. STUDENTS
PART 1. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SUBPART 2. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.2
CHAPTER 2. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 16. STUDENTS
PART 1. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SUBPART 2. COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE (1) The chief judge of the superior court;
#57. To: nolu chan (#50)
Replies to Comment # 57. You do go on.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 57.
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