Newby Elementary students, staff highlight attendance 'buddies' and bus service in board presentation

McMinnville — Principal Vicky Brown and students from Newby Elementary presented the school’s attendance efforts to the McMinnville School District board on April 14, highlighting incentives, a newly added bus route and a classroom-based mentoring program called "attendance buddies."

Brown told the board the school documented chronic absence as a concern and focused on positive incentives: donuts at drop-off for students with 90%+ attendance, a movie night, and a year-end playground party for students who meet attendance goals. She said Newby has also secured a bus route for neighborhoods across Second Street after transportation staff confirmed walking those routes was unsafe for many students.

Several students described why they attend school daily. A student, Emma, told the board, “Now that I have the bus, I feel happy, and it is easier to get to school in the mornings. I want to keep coming to school because I love my bus driver.”

Brown and Newby staff also described the attendance buddies pilot, in which staff are paired with a small group of students for regular check-ins. Staff reported an average attendance increase of about 2% for students with buddies after three weeks. A counselor said regular check-ins and building a personal connection were the keys to the improvement, and a reading specialist said the program also increased staff motivation to be present.

Board members asked questions about attendance thresholds and incentives; staff said certificates and other small rewards were used and that the program was intended to build relationships that encourage regular attendance.

— End —