The Hermiston City Council approved an ordinance at its Nov. 25 regular meeting to introduce a daytime curfew aimed at promoting school attendance.
The ordinance, which amends Chapter 133 of the Hermiston Municipal Code, is the result of discussions with the Hermiston School District to encourage class attendance and allow police officers to have positive interactions with youth who are in public places during regular school hours.
The new provisions make it unlawful for minors 7 to 18 who have not completed the 12th grade to be in public places during school hours, except under specific exemptions. These exemptions include:
- The minor being accompanied by a parent or authorized adult
- Participation in lawful activities authorized by a parent or school official
- Traveling directly between home and school or to a location as approved by the parent or school
- Emancipation or exemption from compulsory school attendance as outlined in state law
The ordinance is designed to proactively address truancy, offering a path for police officers to work with schools, students, and families. Violations will be met with progressive consequences, ranging from a return home or to school for first offenses to referrals to juvenile services and potential parental citations for repeated offenses.
“This ordinance reflects our commitment to student success and family support,” said City Manager Byron Smith. “By working hand-in-hand with the Hermiston School District, we’re taking an important step to ensure every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive.”
Similar ordinances are in place in Pendleton and Boardman and create an additional pathway to truancy enforcement with participation from Umatilla County and the Circuit Court.
The ordinance will take effect 30 days after adoption. Members of the council said the measure will foster a stronger educational foundation in Hermiston.
Wow, poor working parents will get in trouble because they have nasty kids that don’t care. So, you working parents with those nasty kids better quit your jobs and get on government assistance so you can make sure your kids are in school, and so you don’t get in trouble.
I went to Juvi for truenancy, do you know why I didn’t go to school? Because the teachers and admin bullied me more than the other students did. I still dropped out the day I turned 16.
Maybe, we should look into why kids are skipping school, instead of forcing them to be somewhere they do not want to be. As if that’s going to help. Smh.