Northfield High principals outline goals to raise attendance, credit recovery and college-ready participation

Chris Dibble, Northfield High School’s new principal, told the school board the school will prioritize three goals this year: raise building-wide attendance, increase credit attainment for students receiving free and reduced-price lunch and expand college- and career-readiness options. Dibble said staff will align those goals with the district strategic commitments for people, learner outcomes and communication.

The district reported an attendance increase for the past three years in presentations to the board: Dibble said overall attendance rose from roughly 62 percent to 80 percent for a group the presentation tracked, and the stated target for this year is to reach 90 percent attendance for students “90 percent of the time” and reduce chronically absent students to below 10 percent. Dibble credited a mentors program for measurable gains: 200 students received mentors last year and 76 of those dropped out of the chronically absent category, he said. Because the program proved effective, administrators restored the mentors program this school year and report roughly 100 students are already receiving mentor services based on attendance patterns.

Credit attain…