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Board divided over 93% attendance party: one trustee calls rule "punitive," others credit incentives with higher attendance
Summary
Board members debated a Kalmiopsis end-of-year party that requires 93% attendance: one member said excluding students who lack control over attendance is punitive, while district staff and other trustees said rewards helped raise regular-attender rates from the low 50s to about 70 percent.
Board members at the Brookings-Harbor SD 17C meeting debated whether a school's plan to invite only students with 93% attendance to an end-of-year party was fair or effective.
A board member objected that the threshold "seems very punitive to kids who have no control over whether they go to school or not," saying many attendance barriers originate with parents and family circumstances. The commenter said excluding students from a celebration may not encourage improved attendance and could stigmatize those who miss school for reasons outside their control.
Helena and other trustees defended the incentive, saying it was designed to motivate regular attendance. Helena noted that "K school had a 53% regular attender rate 2 years ago? They're now at 70," and argued that the party and related recognition can prompt families and students to increase attendance.
Board members questioned whether the target should be adjusted for elementary students who may lack control over attendance, and discussed alternative approaches to reward regular attendance without appearing to punish students who miss school for family or health reasons. No formal policy change was recorded during the meeting.
