Douglas County defers vote on new K–8 'Everyday Counts' truancy program after split among commissioners

County staff on May 27 presented a revised 'Everyday Counts' elementary and middle school truancy program and asked the Douglas County Commission for approval to implement the model and release $87,500 from the commission's truancy fund to Criminal Justice Services.

Katie Fitzgerald, criminal justice coordinator, said staff revised the proposal after meetings with superintendents of Lawrence (USD 497), Odora, Baldwin City and Perry to remove a neighborhood truancy board tier, adjust attendance targets to be achievable and create a streamlined referral form and truancy database. The revised model centers on case management by county youth services staff, building teams of caring adults for referred students and hiring one additional truancy coordinator to manage cases.

District Attorney Lumis told commissioners that timely referrals are essential. He described how absences among younger children are commonly driven by family disruptions (transportation, housing, illness) while older students may make independent attendance decisions. He emphasized that the statutory referral thresholds (cited in the meeting as three consecutive days, five truancies in a semester or seven in a school year) require timely reporting so interventions can be effective.

Public commenters urged upstream and different interventions. Meg Davis of the Social Service League proposed pilot exercise-based programs for youth with depression and anxiety, offering to help fund such pilots. Dr. Kelsey Dachman of the Center for Supportive Communities noted prior uncertainty during the 2025 budget process, clarified that some federal funding (American Rescue Plan/Americanore) had been restored, and said the community partner model and mentoring-based supports are effective and should be considered.

Commissioners debated two paths: move the program in-house (county-run case management and a new coordinator) to reduce reliance on a single community partner and perceived budget volatility, or continue funding existing community partners (including the Center for Supportive Communities and Okonnell Youth Ranch) and seek braided funding with cities and districts. Key concerns included whether one additional county staffer would be adequate if school districts began timely reporting, the short timeline before the school year and the proximity of county budget hearings, and the risk of creating a service gap if no interim funding was approved.

A motion to implement 'Everyday Counts' and authorize the $87,500 release produced a split vote and did not carry. Commissioners then debated an alternate motion to continue funding the community partner through the remainder of 2026 and to engage a broader stakeholder work group; finally the commission voted to defer the matter until Commissioner Willie (the fifth commissioner) could participate so the five-member board can decide.

What's next: staff will reconvene stakeholders and return the item for a full five-member vote; commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to school districts, community partners and potential braided funders and to provide updated staffing and referral-volume estimates.