By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City School System will look to stress the importance of regular school attendance during an upcoming town hall meeting at the Alabaster Senior Center.

The school system is holding its first truancy town hall meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Alabaster Senior Center at 1097 Seventh St. S.W. from 6-7 p.m.

ACS Student Services Coordinator Dorann Tanner said this will mark the school system’s first truancy-themed community event, and said it came as a result of the Alabama Department of Education’s attendance awareness month in September.

“The state is really challenging local boards of education, especially in September, to promote attendance,” Tanner said. “We thought it would be a good idea to get everyone who is in charge of attendance in the county to come together to talk about why it is important to stay in school and attend school every day.”

During the meeting, several local, state and county officials will discuss ways the school system, state and county are working to combat truancy in local schools.

ACS also is planning to distribute anti-truancy stickers to businesses throughout the city, Tanner said.

“Statistics show students who aren’t present in the classroom, who aren’t at school every day, can’t get the education they deserve,” read a flyer for the event.

The event will feature Alabaster School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers, Dr. Kate Warfield with the Alabama Department of Education, Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon, Alabaster School Board President Adam Moseley, Tanner, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kevin Turner, Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Jim Kramer and Shelby County District Attorney Jill Lee.

At the end of the event, the school system will draw for door prizes, such as movie tickets and restaurant gift certificates. Attendees must be present to win door prizes.