Board approves revised attendance policy after lengthy debate over what counts as 'in attendance'

The Faribault Public School District board approved revisions to policy 5.03 (student attendance) on April 20 after a prolonged discussion about how the district will count students for attendance reporting and related state funding.

The revised language instructs the district to count a student as in attendance on days the student receives supervision, instruction, or services from school staff during scheduled school hours — language the superintendent and other board members said reflects statutory reporting requirements. Director Victor Moore pressed for clearer definitions, questioning whether a brief nurse office visit or a short period of supervision would be sufficient to claim full attendance for funding purposes and warning of a high potential for "manipulation and abuse." He asked for the policy to be returned to committee to define terms like "service" and "reasonable time."

Superintendent Benton and others explained the law’s intent and distinctions (for example, differing attendance counting methods across grade levels and the state’s age thresholds for truancy). Benton noted the state’s guidance about excusable reasons and that some attendance scenarios (e.g., 12 and under) are treated as child‑neglect investigations rather than truancy in some circumstances. Board members who supported the change said it was necessary to align district practice with state reporting rules. The revision passed on a recorded vote of 5–1.

Board direction included a call for clearer staff procedures and coding to ensure reporting matches statute; no new funding adjustments were adopted at the meeting.