Jailed Advocate VOTE NOV 6th EDPS BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

[Guest guest]

Candidate discusses truancy case

Candidate spent several

days in jail, says she was advocating for her son

By Allard

C & G Staff Writer

EASTPOINTE — More than a year ago, Sandy McMurray spent 18 days in

the Macomb County Jail after being sentenced in a truancy case

regarding repeated school absences for one of her sons.

The Eastpointe resident and mother of twin 12-year-old sons with

autism said she doesn't want other parents to experience the ordeal

she endured, which prompted her to run for the East Detroit Public

Schools Board of Education. The general election is Nov. 6.

" This is exactly why I am running for school board, " McMurray, 45,

said. " I'm not ashamed to admit I went to jail. I was advocating for

my son. I don't want this to happen to another parent. "

McMurray she'd like to be a " voice " for special needs children in

EDPS. She would like to see the district's teachers, parents and

students work together to benefit the students' needs.

" (With) special ed, it's very difficult to get services. All our

children have a right to an education. Our disabled people have a

voice, " McMurray said. " They need to be heard. I feel our district

lacks that. "

McMurray was charged with truancy twice — once in 2004 and again in

2006. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office dismissed the 2004 case,

but in March 2006 she served jail time for the 2006 truancy charges

brought against her.

Judge Norene Redmond of Eastpointe's 38th District Court handled the

bench trial, and on March 3, 2006, ordered McMurray to serve 30 days

in the Macomb County Jail. McMurray served a shorter sentence and

was released March 20.

" She was found guilty based upon the evidence following a bench

trial, " 38th District Court Administrator Lori Shemka said. " I don't

know what evidence was presented at the trial. Truancy is only

concerned about whether or not the child is not in school. The court

just wants to make sure the kids are at school and at school on

time. "

Before the bench trial, Simon, attendance officer with the

Macomb Intermediate School District, filed a preliminary

investigation report on Jan. 5, 2006. According to the report, one

of McMurray's sons " has approximately 65 times been out of school

during the 2003-04 school year and before that he missed 21.5 days

of school. " The 2006 report also stated " this year he's got 18

absences with 36 tardies, " and " Mom makes all kinds of demands on

the school. "

McMurray declined to comment on the number of absences of her son,

but said he had " a lot of doctor appointments, and they were counted

as full-day absences. "

McMurray said information about the case " appears to be misleading. "

She also wants it made clear she did not have a jury trial — but a

bench trial — as earlier reported in court documents that have since

been corrected. Dissatisfied with how the case was handled, McMurray

recently filed a complaint against Redmond with the Judicial Tenure

Commission about her case.

" I'm going to let the Tenure Commission view this, " McMurray

said. " I did not hear back from them yet. They may or may not do

anything about it yet. I just made a complaint about how my case was

handled. "

This was news to Shemka.

" I'm not aware of any information in that regard, " Shemka said.

The Judicial Tenure Commission serves to promote the integrity of

the judicial process and preserve public confidence in the courts.

The commission strives to hold state judges, magistrates, and

referees accountable for their misconduct without jeopardizing or

compromising the essential independence of the judiciary. The basis

for commission action is a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct

or Rules of Professional Conduct, which are published with the

Michigan Rules of Court.

You can reach Staff Writer Allard at allard@... or

at (586) 498-1045.