Board flags chronic absenteeism and calls for coordinated community response

Board members pressed administrators for hard data on chronic absenteeism and the flow of truancy referrals to the prosecutor’s office and called for stronger community support to address underlying barriers.

A board member asked how many truancy referrals have been sent to the prosecutor’s truancy program since attendance became a priority. Staff said the district follows its procedures and that the prosecutor’s office reviews referred cases; several trustees said they perceive weak follow-through at the prosecutorial level. One board member urged inviting the prosecutor’s truancy team for a targeted, question-and-answer meeting to identify breakdowns in the partnership.

Administrators and principals described the “invisible barriers” many students face — hunger, housing instability, lack of reliable internet — and urged continued investment in wraparound services and community partnerships, including preschool and family engagement initiatives. "She said, I'm hungry," a former Arborwood principal recalled, using a student anecdote to underscore the point.

The board asked staff to compile attendance, truancy referral and prosecutor-response data for upcoming briefs and recommended exploring partnership options with community organizations for targeted supports.