Beltrami County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Bemidji mother is now facing criminal charges after her seven-year-old twins missed 108 out of 172 school days during the 2024–2025 academic year.
According to court documents, Sara Lu Tibbetts (DOB 04/24/1983) was charged with contributing to the need for child protection or services, a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law.
Beltrami County Health & Human Services initially opened a family assessment for educational neglect on October 31, 2024. Despite numerous outreach attempts by the school, attendance did not improve. A CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) petition was filed in April 2025.
The children were receiving special education services, which were compromised by their chronic absenteeism. Officials warned that continued absences could result in the loss of those services for the upcoming school year.
Tibbetts has prior convictions for disorderly conduct (2019) and DWI (2007).
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.