Christie Hadley, president and CEO of the Martinsburg Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce, urged students to “strive for less than 5 absences this school year” during public comments to Berkeley County Schools, saying regular attendance builds “responsibility, discipline, and strong work habits.”

Hadley said the Chamber “stands alongside Berkeley County Schools” in encouraging better attendance and framed the goal as part of preparing a dependable local workforce. “Quite simply, good students become great employees,” she said, adding that employers value dependability and motivation.

The Chamber called for a community effort involving businesses, families and schools to support students’ attendance and work habits. “We understand that challenges come up, but attendance is a community effort,” Hadley said. She urged Berkeley County residents to “invest in our students, our future workforce, and our local economy.”

The remarks were delivered as part of the meeting’s public-comment period; the transcript does not record any formal action, vote or official response by Berkeley County Schools in relation to the comments.