Board hears case to keep attendance-outreach jobs as federal funds expire; staff say positions help curb chronic absenteeism

Caitlin, an attendance-outreach specialist on the division's mental-health team, described Dec. 11 how the district uses a tiered response to chronic absenteeism and urged the board to consider making the position recurring as federal funds end.

"In the state of Virginia, what they tell us to do if a student has missed 5 unexcused days..." Caitlin said, describing automatic letters at five days, increased outreach at seven days and attendance-improvement plans at 10 days that may culminate in juvenile-court referral only after intensive interventions.

Why it matters: Board members were told the outreach work often identifies mental-health, transportation and basic-needs barriers and that the team performs home visits, coordinates with SROs for safety and operates support services such as a clothing closet and pantry to remove barriers to attendance.

Caitlin said the division's mental-health team added an attendance-outreach position last November and that the team conducts weekly school visits. She said a small but growing number of students require intensive intervention: "We need to conduct 20 or 30 attendance improvement plans" this year, she told the board.

One board member argued the investment may be revenue-positive because state funding is tied to average daily membership and increased attendance can raise per-pupil revenue. "I believe in all these 9 positions, and I'm gonna fight y'all to keep them in," a board member said, referencing the nine positions and the $485,000 (approx.) figure discussed in the superintendent's report.

What's next: Board members requested a menu of options and cost estimates for retaining these positions in the recurring budget as staff prepare the fiscal-year budget in January and February.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A by Caitlin (attendance outreach support specialist); superintendent budget commentary.