Principals present DOK snapshot and attendance data as board hears chronic-absence strategies

Principals and school leaders presented school-level scorecards that combine instructional snapshots (DOK blitzes), weekly walkthrough data and monthly financial summaries. Presenters said the snapshot system uses a quick classroom photo-and-code method to capture a moment in instruction and to identify teachers who need targeted support.

"Every time we have a snapshot ... we go in for another group of principals," a principal presenter said, describing how the district normed coding and uses the data to identify patterns. The presenter described moving teachers with repeated low snapshot scores onto weekly walk-through lists and providing follow-up planning-time coaching.

On attendance, district staff reported the county-level figures for November and chronic-absence statistics and emphasized outreach including more than 50 home visits this year and daily monitoring of attendance by social workers and counselors. "We have moved from last month, we were at 36.6, and this month, 34," an attendance lead said, describing movement in chronic-absence percentages and noting kindergarten shows the highest counts.

Board members asked whether home visits had measurable impact; staff responded that follow-up visits improved attendance for many families and that social workers were essential to sustained outreach. The presentations closed with a request that principals and LSIC (school committees) review school websites and local communications to make sure public information is current for parents and potential staff recruits.