Attendance update: district close to projected enrollment; new parent-engagement role to drive 90/90 goal

The board received an attendance update showing actual enrollment close to projected figures and a plan to pursue statewide expectations for student attendance.

Mr. Brooks (attendance overview) told the board that projected enrollment for 2024–25 is within 101 students of the district’s projection. The district recorded a small dip in December attendance and staff said they expect improved alignment in the second semester as they pursue a 90/90 attendance target (90% of students in class at least 90% of the time), a statewide benchmark.

David Parker Sr., interim parent engagement and community involvement specialist, described outreach work intended to strengthen family–school partnerships and support attendance. Parker said he is forming a Normandy Schools Collaborative Family Advisory Council and hopes to recruit three to four families from each school for a recurring monthly meeting (proposed third Thursday in the evening), beginning at the high school to encourage broader participation. He said family liaisons (FAILs) and school-level staff will support the work and that some schools already have established PTAs or parent groups.

Board members asked about emergency resources for families during extreme weather and whether the district had mechanisms for meeting immediate needs; Parker said he had not fielded emergency requests but that many schools maintain winter-coat resources and local partners can be contacted for additional support. Board members also asked whether parent engagement activities would be coordinated with existing superintendent-run parent advisory groups; staff said the evening-family council is intended to complement daytime advisory groups and expand participation.

No formal board action was taken; staff said they will return with continued attendance monitoring and plans to launch the family advisory council.