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Koehling Elementary principal presents attendance vision aiming to raise rates to mid-90s
Summary
Koehling Elementary Principal presented a plan to raise attendance, aiming for 90% of students to reach at least a 94% attendance rate and outlining weekly recognition, quarterly awards and community partnerships.
Koehling Elementary School Principal Mrs. Cruz told the Lake Central board on Oct. 6 that the school has launched an attendance vision that aims to increase student attendance and re-establish positive attendance habits following pandemic-era declines.
Cruz said the school's vision sets a target that 90% of students will achieve at least a 94% attendance rate (the principal said she framed an aspirational weekly and quarterly recognition system around a 95% goal to ensure the school's measured results exceed a 94% threshold). She told the board that chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days (about 18 days per year) and said chronic absence rose during the pandemic and has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Cruz described concrete tactics: an 'attendance board' outside the office where weekly class ribbons show which grades met the target, weekly announcements to families via ParentSquare, an attendance committee of staff volunteers (administrators, teachers and specialists), quarterly awards that pair certificates with small donated rewards from local businesses and low-profile in-school celebrations such as "minute to win it" activities to acknowledge success. Cruz said the school communicates weekly attendance rates in its Sunday ParentSquare message and solicits business partners to provide small incentives such as free ice cream coupons.
Cruz cited data she said came from the state education agency showing that 66.8% of students met a 94% attendance threshold in 2024 and said she would post comparable attendance data on each school's website. She reminded the board that the principal's initiative avoids pushing "perfect attendance" celebrations in ways that would encourage attendance while sick; instead, she emphasized routines, family engagement and reasonable recognition to improve attendance rates.
Cruz asked staff to pursue quarterly certificate awards with keychains and gentle celebrations, and said staff were mindful to avoid strenuous contests. Board members responded positively and praised the plan for building school culture and engaging families.
No formal board action was required; the item was presented as a principal's vision and discussion.
