Stephanie Elementary leaders tell trustees chronic absenteeism improved as school highlights new programs

Principal Jame Cter presented a showcase of Stephanie Elementary’s start to the school year, telling the Merced City School District board that the site had 596 students as of Aug. 18 (he said enrollment has since grown to “a little over 600”) and a staff of 53 certificated and support personnel. Cter credited targeted interventions, one-to-one student devices, and schoolwide positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) for recent gains in academic performance.

“We reclassified 41 English learners last year,” Cter said, noting that was the largest single-site total in the district and exceeded the site’s reclassification target. He told trustees the school improved one full CAASPP color band in both English language arts and math and that subgroup performance rose across the board.

Cter highlighted a drop in chronic absenteeism that he traced from roughly 27% during the pandemic period to about 17.6% in 2023–24, and described efforts such as home visits, MTSS wraparound services, tutoring and incentives for improved attendance. He also pointed to site-based supports including an on-campus clinic, a restorative justice program, and expanded arts and enrichment offerings. The principal said the school will soon be adjacent to a mult-acre skate park currently under construction.

Trustees complimented staff and students for the progress. Trustee Jeang and others asked the district to consider taking the site’s practices—particularly those that supported subgroup growth—to other campuses with persistent performance challenges.

The presentation concluded with trustees thanking school staff and students and with the board moving on to other agenda business.