During the meeting, it was highlighted that the truancy issues, or “school refusal” cases, often end up in municipal court, which may not be the most suitable venue due to the sensitivity of the matters involved. One of the council members shared that the initiative originated from a discussion with Judge Clark and the court administrator, Kate, who expressed concerns about the existing process. They pointed out that numerous truancy cases see children missing significant amounts of school, sometimes up to 100 days, which underscored the need for a more private and sensitive approach.

The program utilizes the Court’s mediation system, which has experienced mediators trained to handle various situations. The goal is to intervene early and address the underlying issues causing truancy before they escalate to the court. The collaborative effort between the township, the Board of Education, and the administrative office of the courts was praised by multiple attendees. It was noted that the program’s focus is to keep personal and health-related family issues from becoming public record, thus protecting the privacy of students and their families.

One council member expressed surprise at how truancy cases are handled publicly and lauded the new initiative for its potential to set a precedent for other municipalities. Another attendee, drawing from their experience with the Legal Aid Society, emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of truancy outside the courtroom, stressing that the legal system can be overwhelming and complicated for families.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to move forward with the program, with hopes of implementing it as early as next month. The collaborative effort was celebrated as an achievement for Middletown, with aspirations that it might be replicated across the county and the state.

Public comments during the meeting included questions about the role of security staff and their involvement in truancy matters. It was clarified that although there were no longer specific officers for truancy, two individuals are on the security staff to make home visits if necessary.