Students like Martha fly under the radar in some school districts, while other districts assign truancy officers to find who they are.

In response, the school district recently put together the new program after laying off all but one of its 47 truancy officers last year.

Daily attendance is 86 percent, well below the city average - despite 10 truancy officers assigned to the school.

The school inspector and the truancy officer tried for an immediate decision against the parents, but the judge adjourned the case for one week.

Fleming was on parole for pointing a gun at a truancy officer at the time of duFresne's murder.

About 6,000 people work in the local and high school district offices, including teacher trainers, truancy officers, special education supervisors and curriculum developers.

During his time as a semi-professional Pacquette worked as a school caretaker and a truancy officer.

Transfronterizos fly under the radar in some school districts, while others pursue them with truancy officers.

"If you had the truancy officer come looking for you, it was an embarrassment to your family," he says.

Lancen worked at Bentley Park College as a truancy officer for a brief time.