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Tempe Union board adopts 2024–25 goals, sets 5% chronic-absence improvement target
Summary
The Tempe Union High School District governing board approved 2024–25 governing goals that include a target to reduce chronic absenteeism by 5% districtwide; board members said tri-district collaboration and feeder-school alignment will be key to meeting the goal.
The Tempe Union High School District governing board approved its 2024–25 governing goals, including a target to improve chronic absenteeism by 5% districtwide, after a study-session discussion about goal language and alignment with feeder districts.
Board President Montero opened the study session, saying the recommended language was drafted with Superintendent Dr. Wilson and the executive team to broaden goal five from a narrow DEI focus to an outcome-based school climate measure covering bullying, diversity, equity and inclusion, belonging and support. "We felt that mental health was encompassed in that already," Montero said when introducing the revised goals.
Why it matters: Board members said chronic absence is tied to multiple student needs — social, emotional and home-based causes — and that focusing on chronically absent students will surface underlying problems. Member Barraza said concentrating on chronically absent students "is gonna help to identify a lot of students" and unmask root causes. Member Hodge stressed that absentee patterns start before ninth grade and urged sharing the board's goals with feeder districts to smooth transitions.
District data and interpretation: Dr. Lehi presented district figures, saying chronic-absence rates "vary across schools" and are "between 5 to 8 percent across the different schools" with a districtwide rate "about 6 percent." When members asked whether the 5% target meant a 5-percentage-point reduction or a 5% relative improvement, Dr. Lehi clarified it is a 5% improvement, not 5 percentage points.
Next steps and context: Members discussed using tri-district convenings with Arizona State University, the City of Tempe and feeder districts to align interventions and track student transitions from eighth to ninth grade. The board approved the goals later that evening by voice vote, 4–0. The board said superintendent goals and site-level strategies will be used to pursue the outcome-based objectives.
The board voted to approve the 2024–25 governing goals, including the chronic-absence target, and will consider superintendent and site-level implementation details in future agenda items.
