Pewaukee district reports steady attendance, layered behavior interventions across schools

Pewaukee School District administrators presented a districtwide discipline and attendance report at the board meeting on Feb. 10, outlining attendance declines tied to winter illnesses, varying tardy and truancy patterns across buildings, and a range of classroom-to-office behavior interventions intended to reduce repeat infractions.

Why it matters: Board members heard detailed, building-level data and interventions because chronic absenteeism and behavior directly affect learning time and student support needs. Administrators said attendance and discipline data are used to shape monthly care-team priorities and targeted interventions.

What the report said: Associate principals from each building described trends and responses: - PLE (primary/elementary): Beth Engel, associate principal, said January “has hit us hard with illness” and that the school had days with roughly 40 students absent. She reported a reduction in behavioral incidents compared with 2022–23 after a multi-year emphasis on consistent programming and progressive interventions. PLE recorded 24 total infractions this year (16 minors, 8 majors) and two in-school suspensions; staff described daily check-in/check-out, reflection forms, small social-skills groups and bus “shout-outs” as positive supports. - Horizon Elementary: Associate principal Lexi Horvath said monthly attendance dipped (September 97.51% to January 93.51%) amid winter illness and that three families were being worked with for unexcused absences; the school reported 78 incidents year-to-date, with most infractions categorized as physical contact during unstructured times. Horizon described an all-school ticket incentive, targeted lessons ("cool tools") and problem-solving meetings for students with repeated referrals. - ASSA (middle school): Associate principal Katie (last name not specified) said middle school attendance patterns mirrored other buildings, noted higher tardies by virtue of an eight-period day, and reported teachers now enter referrals consistently so leaders can spot patterns. Technology and cell-phone incidents were a top minor infraction, especially in eighth grade; the middle school uses an on-campus wellness center and in-school suspension program focused on restorative learning. - Pewaukee High School: Associate principal Emily Hansen reported a 95% attendance rate at the end of semester 1 — the highest in three years — while also noting 16% of students met the district definition of chronically absent (measured by aggregated partial days). High-school leaders reported more majors than minors in recorded referrals, increased use of Saturday detentions and AODA (alcohol and other drug) diversion classes, and a small number of students on pre-expulsion status.

Interventions and common themes: Across buildings, administrators emphasized progressive discipline, social-emotional learning (Purposeful People, Character Strong), frequent small-group work from counselors and school psychologists, regular data reviews at MTSS/care meetings, family communication and bus behavior programs with the vendor Right Way. Leaders said in-school suspension programs vary by building but are designed to maintain instruction while offering reflective and restorative activities.

Board and staff questions: Trustees asked about the nature of major infractions (administrators said many majors stem from dysregulation rather than intent to harm) and about how bus incidents are handled; administrators described a progressive approach starting with bus write-ups, video review and parent communication, and said repeated bus offenses can lead to assigned seats or temporary removal of bus privileges under state rules.

Next steps: Administrators will maintain monthly data reviews, continue partnership with community programs for interventions, and pursue the county truancy task-force recommendations. Several board members and administrators noted district attendance practices have been shared with other districts.

Ending: Board members praised staff for data-driven work and requested continued monthly reporting; no immediate policy changes were proposed at the meeting.