Farney Elementary leaders highlight lower absenteeism, reading gains and social-emotional work

Farney Elementary staff and students presented an overview of the school’s midyear progress to the Ottumwa Community School District Board of Education on Jan. 14, highlighting unusually low chronic absenteeism, gains on reading measures and expanded social-emotional programs.

In their presentation, Farney staff said chronic absenteeism stood at about 4.98 percent, substantially below a cited statewide Department of Education comparison figure of roughly 12 percent and neighboring JPA schools at about 15 percent. The presenters credited a combination of consistent expectations, smaller settings, a monthly “Bulldog Time” program and periodic climate surveys for the attendance and discipline improvements.

The presenters described reading growth measured by the DIBELS maze comprehension assessment. They said in October 57 percent of students were showing growth toward benchmarks and that figure…