OAKWOOD — Now that Alianna’s Alert law went into effect on Friday, parents can expect to hear from school if their child doesn’t show up for class.
Districts must contact parents within the first two hours of a school day if there’s an unexplained absence.
Oakwood City School District already had a similar policy.
“It’s a good law to be in place,” said Allyson Couch, director of educational services for Oakwood Schools.
Walking, biking, riding the bus or getting dropped off, no matter how your child gets to school, Alianna’s Law aims to make sure they have arrived safely.
“If something did happen on the way to school, time is of the essence,” said Maj. Matt Haines of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
RELATED: Ohio schools must call parents within 2 hours if child absent
The law was named for a 14-year-old Cleveland girl who was abducted from her bus stop in 2017, and killed. Alianna DeFreeze’s parents did not know she was missing until the end of the school day.
“School safety is important for all school districts and parents, and so timeliness of getting them ... contacted and notified that their student isn’t there is an important thing,” Couch said.
It’s an effective policy, and good that it’s statewide, she said.
Parents say it will add peace of mind.
“That would definitely make me feel a whole lot better,” said Oakwood parent Emily Smerbeck.
If something does go wrong, every second counts.
“The quicker the better that law enforcement can get involved and start looking for a missing child, certainly the better,” Haines said.
In Oakwood, their policy takes it a step further than the new law. If parents can’t be reached when a child doesn’t show up for school, they said the Oakwood Safety Department to the child’s home.
Got a tip? Call our monitored 24-hour line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com
