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Hoosac Valley Regional reports elevated chronic absenteeism; superintendent outlines outreach and remediation steps
Summary
Superintendent Aaron Dean reported chronic-absenteeism rates of roughly 20–27% across grade bands and said the district is sending family letters, working with school teams, and has about 30 cases referred to DCF or the courts; the district target remains 95% attendance.
Superintendent Aaron Dean told the School Committee on April 28 that the district is seeing high chronic-absence numbers across grade bands and described steps the district is taking to address the problem.
Dean reported the following chronic-absence figures: Elementary — 409 students (23%); Middle School — 303 students (20%); High School — 301 students (27%). He said some high-school absences are attributable to internships but that teams at each school are actively reviewing causes and interventions. "Our target is 95%. We are between 90–92%," Dean said, framing the numbers against the district goal.
Dean said the district sends letters to families for chronic absenteeism and is "doing due diligence to get students in school," noting about 30 cases are currently with the Department of Children and Families or the courts. He described available responses including school-based teams, counseling and targeted interventions; the district also offers credit-recovery and summer options where academic consequences are involved.
The committee did not vote on additional measures at the meeting; Dean said counselors and school teams are reviewing cases and will continue outreach. The report signals the administration will return with further information and, where appropriate, recommendations for committee action.
