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District report: chronic absenteeism steady at about 70%; staff push for stronger outreach
Summary
District staff told the board chronic absenteeism remains a concern, holding at roughly 70% regular attendance after COVID; the district reported 10 truancy filings this year and recommended expanded "tier‑1" messaging, parent outreach and coordination with unions and courts.
Diana, a district administrator, presented the annual attendance review and urged the board to prioritize outreach and consistent messaging to families. She defined chronic absenteeism as "two or more absences per month or below 90 percent" and said that after COVID the district had aimed to raise regular attendance to 80% but instead "we stayed flat at 70%."
Diana described the district's monthly attendance committee work and said staff performed deep dives on students with repeated absences. She told trustees the district filed 10 truancy actions this year; "the court has taken action on saying that 6 of them are truant and 2 of the 10 are contempt," she said. Diana recommended expanded tier‑1 messaging — consistent, school‑wide communications that reach all families — and closer coordination with building staff to identify early absences before they escalate.
Board members pressed staff on contributing causes and on staff attendance. Diana said staff absences also affect classroom instruction and estimated that roughly "10 to 15 percent" of employees miss work on a given day for a mix of reasons. She noted the district will continue monthly reviews and develop a plan for increased parent and student engagement, and suggested working with unions where attendance‑related procedures intersect with collective bargaining.
The presentation included specific next steps: continued monthly data reviews; a recommended ad hoc committee to review policy and local procedures; targeted communications to families; and additional staff professional development to support consistent implementation of attendance strategies.
