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Board praises attendance gains and weighs community-funded school social worker
Summary
Board members reviewed improved attendance and falling chronic absenteeism, outlined literacy and summer‑school initiatives that helped increase participation, and heard a community fundraiser proposal to pay for a part‑time contracted school social worker to serve about 8 students one day per week.
The Elkhart Lake‑Glenbeulah School District board heard a presentation on attendance trends showing steady improvement and discussed steps to sustain gains.
A district presenter said average daily attendance improved from roughly 94.7% in 2021–22 to a range of about 95.9%–96.4% in the most recent year, and chronic absenteeism fell from 7.6% in 2021 to 3.4% last year. "Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing more than 10% of the possible school days," the presenter said, and noted the district has used proactive family outreach, individualized success plans and increased access to student services to reduce absences.
The presenter outlined summer literacy efforts that contributed to gains, including a 20‑minute targeted intervention program (Resorted Reads) and an Alexia program for middle‑school students, along with professional development on assessment alignment and math coaching for CPM implementation. Summer programming participation rose year over year: staff reported about 196 K–7 participants and 246 K–12 overall last summer.
Board members asked about enrollment growth and its effect on percentages. A staff member noted local and open‑enrollment increases that added roughly 70 students compared with prior years, and said the board will receive monthly attendance reports showing both raw numbers and the district’s actions to sustain improvement.
The board also heard a fundraising proposal from Elkhart Cares to fully fund a contracted school social worker one day per week. Staff said principals identified about 10 students who might use that service; if funded, the position would be provided through a contract rather than added to district payroll. "We would fully fund that position if you guys were to have one," the staff member said, describing an invitation‑only fundraiser intended to secure multi‑year support and possibly perpetual funding through interest earned on a principal donation.
The discussion closed with the board noting the social‑worker proposal is community‑led and contingent on the fundraiser’s results; no personnel action to permanently employ the role was taken at the meeting.
