School board discusses truancy

CAMDEN — The Camden Fairview School Board discussed approaches to student truancy and late assignments during its meeting earlier this month.

Superintendent Fred Lilly said he knew the School Board had concerns about the subject. He said some of the online students are doing little to no work and the principals have been trying to track down those students’ parents to stress the importance of doing their assignments.

“We are trying to let them know that the students are going to have to do a better job of doing their work or they may need to come back (to in-person instruction),” Lilly said. “Because some of them are really struggling.”

Lilly said North Little Rock’s district is trying to account for 400 students but Camden Fairview is trying to track down 21. He added the teachers have been calling and parent coordinators have been going by to try and find the parents. “We’ve been to homes where you could hear the air conditioner running and the TV on, but no one comes to the door. We might have to get a resource officer or something.”