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Pleasantville board adopts plan to cut chronic absenteeism after data presentation
Summary
After a presentation showing district chronic absenteeism above state expectations, the board unanimously approved a three‑tier plan to reduce chronic absence by 5 percent (about 600 students) and assigned Dr. Lapel Chapman to lead implementation and reporting.
Dr. Lapel Chapman presented the Pleasantville Public Schools’ plan to reduce chronic absenteeism, which the board unanimously adopted at its Sept. 16 meeting. "Chronic absence is defined as having missed 10 percent or more days of school for any reason," Chapman said, and he told the board the districtwide chronic‑absence rate for 2024–25 is 36.39 percent.
Chapman provided school‑level rates he said were drawn from the district student information system: High School 56.62 percent, North Main 45.89 percent, Bridal School 34.59 percent, South Main 31.13 percent and Washington Avenue 22.86 percent. The district goal for 2025–26 is a 5 percent reduction in the overall chronic‑absence rate, a target Chapman said represents roughly 600 students.
The plan uses a three‑tier approach. Tier 1 focuses on universal prevention and an "Every Day Counts" attendance awareness campaign with daily communications and monthly recognition for improved attendance. Tier 2 sets up school attendance‑review teams and mentorship for students showing emerging patterns of absence. Tier 3 calls for intensive, individualized supports — including home visits, referrals to school‑based social workers, wrap‑around community services and, if necessary, court involvement — for students with the most severe needs.
Dr. Marilyn Martinez asked the board to approve the plan; the motion carried after a roll call vote with Miss Alberto making the motion and Miss Pepe seconding. All present board members recorded "Yes." Chapman will provide biweekly school‑level data reviews and monthly district reports to the board as part of implementation oversight.
The superintendent’s report accompanying the plan said the district will also submit required HBAL/HIB and related compliance reports to the New Jersey Department of Education and coordinate partner services for transportation, housing and mental‑health referrals cited in the plan. The board approved the plan and directed the administration to proceed with the monitoring schedule described by Chapman.
The plan’s next procedural step is implementation and the first district progress benchmarks Chapman listed are end‑of‑marking‑period, mid‑year and year‑end reviews; the board recorded its approval and the district will begin the scheduled monitoring cycle.
