Number
011458
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL
Title
Substitute resolution establishing a Truancy Abatement Task Force to study and make recommendations concerning the problem of truancy in the City of Milwaukee.
Analysis
This resolution establishes an 11-member task force to study and make recommendations to the Common Council concerning the problem of truancy. The task force will be composed of 2 members of the Common Council as well as representatives of the Milwaukee Public School system, the Milwaukee School Board, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, the Milwaukee County Board, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the Milwaukee Police Department, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department and the Boys' and Girls' Club of Greater Milwaukee. The President of the Common Council will designate the task force chair. The task force is directed to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Common Council by October 1, 2002.
Body
Whereas, Regular school attendance has been empirically established as one of the most important predicates of both academic and economic success in young people; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system, caretaker of the City's most cherished asset - its children - has the highest truancy rate in the State of Wisconsin by a wide margin; and
Whereas, Other issues, notably the state budget, threaten to distract attention from the truancy issue even as the MPS truancy rate climbs to its highest level ever; and
Whereas, No one agency or body can accept full responsibility or blame for solving what research has determined to be a multi-faceted problem; and
Whereas, A city-wide study could result in a more uniform program of truancy abatement throughout the City; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that a Truancy Abatement Task Force is created, composed of the following 11 members:
1. 2 members of the Common Council to be appointed by the Council President.
2. 2 representatives of the Milwaukee School Board to be appointed by the school board president.
3. One representative of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to be appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction
4. One representative of the Milwaukee County Board to be appointed by the president of the Milwaukee County Board.
5. One representative from each of the following:
a. Milwaukee Public School system.
b. Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association.
c. Milwaukee Police Department.
d. Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department.
e. Boys' and Girls' Club of Greater Milwaukee.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council President shall designate the Chair of the Truancy Abatement Task Force; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the purpose of this task force shall be to:
a. Assess the history and current extent of the truancy problem in the Milwaukee Public Schools.
b. Seek to identify and classify the causes of this problem.
c. Make recommendations to the Common Council relating to abating the problem of truancy, emphasizing a cooperative, interagency approach and suggesting potential legislative or programmatic changes related to truancy.
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That all departments are authorized and directed to provide assistance to this task force as needed; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Common Council by October 1, 2002, and, upon submission of the report, automatically be dissolved.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB02061-2
jro
02/20/02