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Smith Center school board discusses chronic absenteeism, reviews attendance policy options
Summary
Board members reviewed state statutes and first-semester attendance statistics, discussed definitions of chronic absenteeism and truancy and brainstormed handbook changes aimed at reducing student absences; some matters moved into executive session for confidential student information.
On Jan. 12 the Unified School District 237 Board of Education devoted part of its meeting to student attendance, reviewing state statutes and district handbook policies as it considers measures to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Superintendent Dustin McEwen reviewed the legal framework and current board policies that govern school attendance and explained definitions of chronic absenteeism and truancy. The board reviewed first-semester attendance statistics and discussed potential handbook updates intended to reduce the district’s percentage of chronically absent students.
Board members exchanged ideas about modifications to attendance procedures but did not vote on policy changes at the meeting. The transcript records that the board later moved into an executive session under the Kansas Open Meetings Act exception for matters affecting a student to discuss confidential student information; the minutes do not disclose the substance of that closed session.
The discussion followed other business including the district audit presentation. The board directed staff to continue investigating ways to address chronic absenteeism and to return to the board with possible policy language or recommendations.
Next steps: staff will analyze attendance data and potential handbook revisions and bring options back to the board for further consideration.
