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Orange board hears superintendent report on attendance, facilities and ESSIP second-reading requirement
Summary
District leaders reported September attendance patterns and facility updates, including near-complete summer projects, an 80–90% complete STEM lab, and a required second reading of an ESSIP resolution after local finance board approval.
The Orange Board of Education received a superintendent's report Tuesday evening that highlighted student recognition, attendance trends and several facilities updates as the district prepares for projects tied to its ESSIP plan.
Ms. Massoud opened the report by recognizing the district’s Students of the Month for September and noting observances including World Teachers Day and National Principals Month. The report emphasized wellness and respect initiatives during the Week of Respect (Oct. 7–11) and the district’s adherence to the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.
School Business Administrator and Board Secretary Jason Ballard summarized September attendance data and chronic-absence categories used by the district. Ballard said roughly 953 students missed two or more days in September and that overall district attendance was about 96%, compared with a cited state average of 95%. He cautioned that flu and allergy season could push absenteeism higher in October and described K–8 and high-school trends showing chronic-absence rates often above 50%.
Ballard also gave a facilities update. He said most summer projects are complete, cosmetology and culinary classrooms at the high school are finished but are operating under temporary occupancy restrictions that currently prevent practical student work, and the Innovation Academy STEM chemistry lab is about 80–90% complete. He said district staff will convene in October to address punch-list items at the newly constructed Cleveland Elementary School and to resolve outstanding occupancy details.
On finance and process, Ballard told the board that an ESSIP resolution previously approved in August is now before the board for a required second reading, following approvals at the local finance board. He said completing that second reading will allow the district to begin planned projects in multiple school buildings.
The board did not take an ESSIP final action in the segments of the public record provided; the report focused on status and next steps.
The board heard the report as part of routine business and moved on to minutes approvals and committee updates.
