In recent years truancy has become an increasing problem in school systems throughout the country, and Fayette County has not been immune to this epidemic. Unfortunately, truancy is the precursor to dropping out of school. Students who frequently miss school find it much easier to drop out of school. Dropping out is easier than catching up.

The dropout rate in our state, as well as our county, is increasing by leaps and bounds. It is unfortunate that so many students have no desire to complete their high school education. Without a high school diploma, a person can expect to experience a lifetime of unemployment, or low-paying jobs. As the economy worsens, the odds become even greater that a person will not find a job at all.

Truancy is also the stepping stone to delinquent and criminal activity. As the truancy and dropout rates increase, so does the number of youth involved in the juvenile justice system in Fayette County. If students are not in school, there is idle time in their days which sometimes leads to committing crimes or abusing drugs and alcohol instead of going to school.

Truancy is costly. It not only costs the students an education; it costs society greatly.

It costs taxpayers, who pay higher taxes to support the welfare system.

It costs businesses, which must spend more time and money to train uneducated workers.

It costs the school system, which loses federal and state funds that are based on attendance figures.

It costs the legal system, which prosecutes the students for truancy, as well as prosecuting the students once they become adults, who have no education to achieve a successful career, and in turn must depend upon illegal activities to survive.

It costs social workers and government agencies, which must deal with families experiencing abuse and neglect issues due to drug use. Substance abuse usually begins with using drugs to cope with the stress of not having a sufficient job to care for a family.

One common denominator among most incarcerated individuals is the lack of an education.

Fayette County is now one of the leaders in the state in dealing with truancy. Fayette County’s legal system has taken a very aggressive approach in dealing with parents who allow their children to miss school, and in dealing with youngsters who refuse to attend school.

Fayette County Schools has also worked diligently with other community agencies, as well as working within the school system to identify strategies which enable effective intervention.

Dr. Steve Edwards, a member of the executive board for the National Dropout Prevention Network, will work with the Fayette County Schools Dropout Initiative 2009-10 and beyond. Edwards Educational Services, Inc., will provide the platform for engaging students at-risk for school failure by incorporating 21st Century tools that establish a school culture that encourages positive relationships among faculty, parents, and the community, enabling all students to succeed.

Through the use of face-to-face visits, virtual follow-ups, and collaborative wikis, participants will develop a system to address the needs of the at-risk student. Topics to be addressed during the face-to-face visits include:

* Identifying At-Risk Students and Building a Framework for Effective Intervention,

* Examining New and Existing School and District Policies,

* Creating a Positive School Climate,

* Establishing Positive Transition Experiences for the 21st Century Learning Community,

* Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatments,

* Action Planning, and

* Next Steps for Sustainability.

Dr. Edwards will meet with middle and high school principals on Aug. 3, and will meet on Aug. 24 with school staff members.

A community dropout committee has been established to develop a mentoring program which should be in effect by the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. The committee was formed through the Fayette Family Resource Network and includes members from the FRN along with concerned citizens, principals, teachers, students, central office staff, FMRS, New River Health, and two members of the Fayette County Board of Education.

The county’s Strive for Five Incentive Program has been in effect for three years. This program was designed to reward students who attend school and perform as model students. To qualify for the program, students must not have more than five absences, 10 or fewer tardies, no violations of the Fayette County Schools Code of Conduct, and must have a passing grade point average. This year approximately 1,600 met the criteria for the program.

As part of the Strive for Five Incentive Program, students were awarded trophies and certificates for perfect attendance and red ribbons and certificates for faithful attendance. Of the qualifying students, two students were randomly drawn from each school to attend the county-wide awards assembly. Refreshments were served before the presentation of awards ceremony.

The names of every student selected for the program were entered into a random drawing and each participant received a prize during the ceremony. Brian Hatcher, a student from Mt. Hope High School, was the winner of the grand prize which was “a family trip” valued at $850.

Other prizes included seven laptop computers which were awarded to the following students:

* Dillon Pomeroy, Meadow Bridge High;

* Dustin Shumaker, Fayetteville High;

* Michaelya Tucker, Gauley Bridge Elementary;

* Shannon Coleman, Oak Hill High,

* Carson Cochran, Divide Elementary;

* Alexis Martin, Valley Elementary; and

* Abigail Aldridge, Nuttall Middle.

Twenty-six $50 Wal-mart gift cards were also presented. The winners of the gift cards were the following students:

* Keith Tyree, Mt. Hope High,

* Cameron Austin, Valley High,

* Emily Carte, Nuttall Middle,

* Caleb Arbogast, Oak Hill Elementary,

* Hope Middleton, Valley High,

* Zackary Kennedy, Oak Hill East End Elementary,

* Jeffrey Kincaid, Oak Hill High,

* Caitlin Tolley, Oak Hill Elementary,

* Kierston Jolly, Scarbro Elementary,

* Savannah Duncan, Valley Elementary,

* Alex Wright, Fayetteville Elementary,

* Travis Webb, Ansted Elementary,

* Keith Harper, Midland Trail High,

* Marty Moore, Ansted Elementary,

* Aerinique Rogers, Oak Hill East End Elementary,

* Zach Adkins, Meadow Bridge High,

* Heena Lyon, Meadow Bridge Elementary,

* Brenden Lindsay, Danese Elementary,

* Evan Cassidy, Rosedale Elementary,

* Andrew Angel, Rosedale Elementary,

* Jaalah Dech, Mt. Hope Elementary,

* Tina Farley, Danese Elementary,

* Katharinia Tucker, Gauley Bridge Elementary,

* Sydney McGraw, Gatewood Elementary,

* Dustin Clere, Meadow Bridge Elementary, and

* Dallas Miller, Ansted Middle.

Ten students were given $50 Savings Bonds donated by City National Bank, Fayette County National Bank, Bank of Mt. Hope, and United National Bank. Those 10 students were:

* Amy Holly, Fayetteville High,

* Tinesha Coleman, Collins Middle,

* Brianna Gill, Ansted Middle,

* Rickie Ramsey, Midland Trail High,

* Shondlayha Knight, Mt. Hope Elementary,

* Jordan Nibert, Fayetteville Elementary,

* Karen Hawkins, Divide Elementary,

* Calvin Jones, Collins Middle,

* Travis Honaker, Scarbro Elementary, and

* Stephanie Ortiz, Gatewood Elementary.

Fayette County Schools sincerely appreciates the donations from the banks as well as the donations from Bob Evans Restaurant in Fayetteville, and Margaret Pennington, Nancy Price, Tamara Walker, and Judy Lively, who made individual monetary donations to the program. Also, a very special “thank you” is extended to the voters in Fayette County who voted for the excess school levy. Five thousand dollars a year has been allocated to the Strive for Five Incentive Program for the next five years the levy is in effect.

These are just a few examples of “What’s Right In Fayette County Schools.” A proactive approach has been taken to combat the serious truancy, dropout, and societal issues our county is facing. Fayette County Schools is striving to move ahead with a positive attitude and prepare our students for the challenges they face in the 21st century. We are excited about the opening of New River Elementary and hope that it will be the beginning of the new vision we have for our school system.

(Lively is Fayette County Schools’ attendance director.)