About this role
POSITION TITLE: Attendance Officer and School Community Liaison DATE: October 27, 2016 REPORTS TO: Child Accounting Coordinator DEPARTMENT: Home and School Visitor LOCATION: Hazleton Area High School POSITION GOAL: Improves attendance rate in the school district population by keeping students and parents well informed about the benefits of regular school attendance and assist in student registration process through the ongoing efforts of verification of residency of students. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Enforces compulsory attendance laws and school attendance policies and monitors the attendance patterns of chronic offenders who transfer within the district.
• Remains current regarding child welfare regulations with regard to state law, board policy and administrative regulations.
• Explains attendance policies and laws to students, parents and school personnel.
• Sends written notices to parents regarding attendance and if necessary, visits the homes of students who are truant and/or repeatedly absent from school.
• Investigates citizen complaints regarding suspected truant students.
• Runs reports and identifies excessive absences and tardiness and maintains accurate case files on students referred for attendance.
• Serves as liaison between the schools, parents, the courts, community agencies, police authorities and child placement agencies.
• Helps to initiate petitions for dependency and delinquency to juvenile court and prepare cases for formal hearings; attends juvenile court and/or legal proceedings, appearing as a witness as permitted by law.
• Provides in-service training for school administrators, faculty and clerical staff regarding attendance laws, policies and accurate record keeping.
• Provides assistance to parents in developing a working relationship between home, school and community in an effort to improve attendance of students.
• Conducts checks to verify student's addresses/residency.
• Makes visits to students residences to assist students and parents in developing positive attitudes towards academic success and school attendance.
• Assists in developing and maintaining home visitation records.
• Serves as a role model for students and staff and personally demonstrating a positive attitude, appropriate work attire, personal grooming and dedicated work ethic.
• Participates in relevant in-service and workshop programs and attend all meeting as required by the Board and/or Superintendent.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools.
• Maintains a procedure manual for this position reviewing annually and submit revisions to supervisor at time of evaluation.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this position.
• This position description does not express or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this position. The employee will be required to perform any other position-related duties requested by the supervisor.
QUALIFICATIONS: To successfully perform this position a person must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualification requirements listed below represent minimum levels of educational achievement, training, skill and/or ability necessary.
• Five (5) years' experience in working with at risk juveniles or related field necessary.
• Associate's degree in Criminal Justice or related field is preferred
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Ability to demonstrate diplomacy when dealing with community members, parents, teachers, staff and external contacts, and to maintain confidentiality.
• Current Act 24 (82), Act 34, Act 114, Act 151, Act 168 clearances and pre-employment drug testing and physical with TB test required.
• The person, while performing in this position, will be required to:
• Use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and to talk and hear;
• Sit, and occasionally be required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, twist, reach above and below waist;
• Have specific vision abilities, to include close vision and ability to adjust focus;
• Subject to inside office environmental conditions with moderate noise level;
• Have the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; and
• Possess effective communication, judgment, mathematical, planning and human relations skills, and to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
• Must be able to work in an environment with frequent interruptions
• Have the ability to make judgments and work under high level of stress.
• Have the ability to communicate effectively.
• Have the ability to organize tasks.
• Have the ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Have the ability to exercise good judgment.
• Some experience with social services agencies and the judicial process is required.
• Experience in testifying in Court in matters concerning at risk juveniles preferred.
• Proficient computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
• Must have the ability to operate various office equipment.
• Must possess conflict mediation skills.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.
(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability or disabilities to perform the primary duties and responsibilities of the job.) WORK ENVIRONMENT:
• Field work to include visits to homes while conducting investigations.
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• 12 months; 8 hours per day.
• Salary and benefits according to the agreement between the Board of School Directors and the Hazleton Area Education Association.
The Hazleton Area School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.