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Candidates cite chronic absenteeism as ongoing problem; suggest individualized outreach and community coordination
Summary
Forum participants described chronic absenteeism as a continuing issue in the district, pointed to cases where students miss large portions of the year, and proposed individualized family outreach and coordination with police and community services.
At the Cohoes City School District candidates forum, speakers identified chronic absenteeism as a continuing problem and outlined outreach and support approaches.
Susan Guzzi Paradis, a current board member, said the district continues to see severe absenteeism: "There are kids that miss 50 percent of the school year still to this day. It is a real problem," she said. Candidates said communication with families, individualized interventions and connecting students with mental-health and community resources are central to addressing the issue.
Mary Anne Jadren said individualized approaches that seek to understand home circumstances and tailor assistance would be effective: "Trying to communicate and understand what is the cause of the absenteeism ... and trying to individualize some approaches to assist the families in getting their kids to school," she said. Paradis noted existing programs that coordinate with the Cohoes Police Department to inform schools when evening incidents might affect a student's attendance the next day and urged better resource delivery to address students' mental-health needs.
Candidates framed absenteeism as a multi‑agency, community responsibility and described it as an ongoing operational challenge rather than a matter for a single board action.
