Truants' parents jailed

Municipal Court Assistant Judge Dennis Jones wants students and their parents to know they have to keep their promises with the court and make sure their children attend school.

Jones wants them to know being truant, or skipping classes, in the Ector County Independent School District doesn’t pay off.

In an effort to get parents’ and students’ attention, Jones signed arrest warrants recently to have ECISD police bring about 12 truant parents and students into his courtroom, he said.

“It’s the first time they’ve gone out and targeted arresting those folks who haven’t complied with previous court orders regarding truancy,” Jones said. “It won’t be the last.”

ECISD police Lt. Mark Rowden said the police department received 90 warrants — the largest amount so far this school year — from Jones as of Monday.

And, Rowden said it’s the largest amount of warrants served this school year. At least eight parents were served warrants on Wednesday, Rowden said, noting the truancy charge is a Class C misdemeanor.

Rowden said that number of warrants isn’t unusual because the process of documenting truant students and their parents takes a long time to finalize and serve as arrest warrants.

The truancy court, which Jones presides over, reopened in April after the court changed directions several times in recent years.

Although some parents and students offered valid reasons for missing or not complying with the courts, Jones said four parents were taken Tuesday to the Ector County Detention Center, charged with not complying with the court’s orders.

Jones said he emphasized to parents that it’s not just the law for their children to attend school, but it’s in the students’ best interest to receive an education.

“The easiest thing they can do is go to school,” Jones said. “If they just do that, all this other stuff will work out.”

Rowden agreed it’s important not to end up in that type of situation. Students need to receive an education and also live up to their responsibilities according to the laws, he said.

“If you don’t want a criminal record, then it’s real simple — fulfill your obligation and make your child go to school,” he said. “There’s required attendance.”