The Amador County Probation Department and the Amador County Unified School District are working together to develop a truancy reduction program. Mark Giannini, the county’s Chief Probation Officer, says the pilot program will run for ninety school days from January 9, 2008 through May 30, 2008. During this period there will be one deputy probation officer assigned to monitor truancy and attendance issues at Jackson Elementary and Ione Elementary Schools. The truancy specialist will work closely with the 2 schools to identify students who are missing school – the deputy will contact parents and in some cases, pick students up and take them to school. Giannini said if at least 5 children can be brought back to attending school regularly during this 90-day period, then the program would be continued. The school district will reimburse the county for the salary of the assigned probation officer, while the county will provide a Probation Department vehicle. At this week’s Board of Supervisors’ Administrative Committee meeting, supervisors Forster and Novelli expressed support for the pilot program and cost sharing proposal.