Appleton leaders and citizens prove that democracy can work

After more than six months of discussions among parents, Appleton Area School District leaders, and city officials, the Appleton City Council has approved a new truancy ordinance.

On October 1, the council chamber was again packed with concerned people sharing a variety of opinions about the best way to deal with chronic absenteeism and truancy among students.  The fact that the ordinance passed with a vote of 9-6 isn’t the most important part of the story.  More important was that every discussion was respectful and centered on what was best for kids. It’s also meaningful that the ordinance itself was the result of good-faith compromise.

Appleton can be proud of the community’s dedication to our kids and our public schools and our city leaders’ hard work.

The willingness of City Council members, AASD leaders and staff, parents, and the community to learn and understand was evident from the outset of this process, which began over six months ago.  

The city and the school district partnered to find a solution, always with input from the public.  Meetings were held, including community forums.  AASD provided detailed information on their current efforts to combat truancy and answered question raised by council members or the community.  Council members attended numerous meetings, did research and gathered vital information to inform their decisions.

And it was all done transparently and respectfully.  And always centered around the needs of kids. What a great example of how self-governance and democracy should work. 

The AASD requested the ordinance as a last resort if all other interventions proved ineffective.  At that point, a $250 ticket and/or other stipulations would be issued to high school students who fail to show up at school at all or stop attending mid-year.  The ordinance takes effect on Nov. 1, with the trial period lasting through the end of the current school year. At the end, there will be an evaluation of its effectiveness.  Then the discussion continues.

This is what democracy looks like. You’ve heard it as an aspirational chant during protests over the past months. On Oct. 1 you got to see it in action. And what a refreshing and hopeful thing it was.

Civic engagement, respectful discussion, and a willingness to listen and learn are vital to a healthy democracy.  Kudos to all!  You are proof that it can be done.  You provided a lesson that state and federal legislators would do well to learn.

Be proud, Appleton.