By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA - Clermont County hopes to win a $37,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Youth Services for a pilot program to deter truancy.

Clermont County commissioners, in their last board meeting of the year Thursday, authorized the grant application following a briefing by Juvenile Court Director Douglas Brothers.

The Title II Formula Grant was created by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 and is designed to help states address issues of juvenile crime and delinquency at the local level.

Local governments use the funds for a wide range of programs, including prevention efforts for juvenile offenders and youth victimization.

Mr. Brothers told commissioners Thursday that the $36,711 grant Clermont County seeks would be used to pay two part-time truancy officers.

These officers would be responsible for developing ways to intervene with both the child and his parents before the child's repeated absence from school rises to the level of court action.

"We hope to help parents and kids understand the value of education and we think this is a fairly good idea," he said.

"The trick to (resolving) this (issue) is the manpower. We've always had a process for identifying and intervening with truant kids.

"But there is a group that we haven't been successful with," he added. "We need to make sure that when we tell them they need to be in school tomorrow they are in school tomorrow."

County commissioners voted 3-0 for the county to apply for the grant.

The three-year initiative would be conducted in the Goshen Township School District.

During the first two years, no local match would be required. In the third year, a 25 percent local match would be required.

In other action, the commissioners proclaimed Thursday Martha Dorsey Day, in honor of one of their retiring members.

Mrs. Dorsey, who became the first woman to sit on the Clermont County Board of Commissioners following her election in 1986, is retiring after 16 years.

"It has been an honor to work with Martha for the past 14 years," Commissioner Bob Proud said. "I will always be grateful to Martha for showing me the ropes of county government. ... Her influence will be felt locally and across the state for decades to come."

Commission President Mary Walker agreed.

"This proclamation is a nice way to end and celebrate a long and successful career. We will miss her," she said.

Mrs. Dorsey, who retires at the end of the month, will swear in her replacement, R. Scott Croswell, during a ceremony at the county building.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com