Several local city offices are working together to combat truancy, starting with the arrest of a Glouster woman.
Jennifer Barnhart, 38, is charged with contributing to the unruliness of a minor for failing to send her two children to school at Trimble Local School District, according to a news release.
In an effort to combat the escalating truancy problem in Athens County, the Athens County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center introduced a program where parents who do not send their children to school will be charged in the juvenile court.
Truancy is an illegitimate absence from school.
We have always known there has been a problem
said C. David Warren, Athens County prosecuting attorney, adding that the juvenile court has more resources available to help the entire family.
I think it is a great program and something that is sorely needed said Pat Lang, Athens City law director.
Those parents are essentially robbing their children of a future by not sending them to school Lang said.
Barnhart faces a maximum $1,000 fine and a maximum six-month jail sentence in the Regional Jail as a result of the contributing charge. She will appear before Judge William Grim at her arraignment on March 11.
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Emilie Schneider
