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Banning Unified outlines attendance incentives, secures grants totaling about $800,000 to support MTSS and wellness rooms
Summary
The district presented a new districtwide attendance incentive and described more than $800,000 in recently secured grants to support attendance recovery, restorative practices, PBIS training and wellness rooms, including a three‑year $213,000 grant to mitigate chronic absenteeism.
Director of Student Services Dr. Merlose told the board the office is prioritizing attendance, behavior and social-emotional supports as part of a MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) approach. Dr. Merlose said enrollment trends show gains at several schools and that staff have added classes to respond to higher-than-expected student counts.
To reduce chronic absenteeism and improve connectedness, Dr. Merlose announced a districtwide attendance-incentive program that will recognize students each trimester for perfect attendance and tiers of high attendance (95%–99.9%). He described an "expanded learning program attendance recovery" to allow students to earn hours through tutoring and Saturday Academy that can recover absences and qualify students for recognition.
Dr. Merlose said the district secured multiple grants in the spring that total "a little bit over $800,000" to be spent over the next three years. He named two examples: a three-year "Learning Communities for School Success" grant intended to mitigate chronic absenteeism (about $213,000) and a restorative-practices grant (approximately $100,000) to provide professional development and support. The grants will fund wellness rooms, PBIS training (contracted via the county office of education), expanded learning, and targeted interventions at sites showing need.
The presentation highlighted early results at Central Elementary (97% I-Ready reading diagnostic completion and 99% math diagnostic participation) and noted that about 3,000 students districtwide would currently qualify for one of the attendance awards based on initial data. Dr. Merlose described measures to avoid punitive approaches—emphasizing alternatives to suspension, restorative circles, counselor-supported wellness rooms and parent education courses to address root causes of absenteeism and behavioral incidents.
Trustees asked how Saturday Academy will serve middle and high school students; Dr. Merlose said schools will provide substantive enrichment or make-up work aligned to PLC (professional learning community) goals. He explained restorative circles are voluntary and require agreement from involved parties; staff training will guide facilitation.
The district presented these items for information; the board did not take a separate vote on the grants or the attendance-incentive program during this meeting.
