Son's absences lead to mother's truancy charge

WARREN (AP) -- A suburban Detroit mother is charged with truancy after school officials say her autistic son was absent or late hundreds of times in recent years. The Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens reported that 27-year-old Andria Black of Warren was in 37th District Court on the case last Thursday. She's fighting the misdemeanor charge brought after school officials said the boy, now 7, was chronically absent without explanation or late. A conviction is punishable by up to 90 days in jail. Deano Ware, a lawyer for Black, says Fitzgerald Public Schools and the Macomb Intermediate School District unfairly lumped together absences and late arrivals dating back to 2008. A charge was brought last year. A judge last Thursday postponed a trial to allow time for motions. A hearing was scheduled for Feb. 16. Published: Mon, Jan 9, 2012