Board directs analysis of chronic absenteeism and considers stricter participation rules for extracurriculars
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Summary
Trustees asked staff to analyze chronic absenteeism and tardiness patterns and to consider enforcing participation rules—such as barring students who miss instructional periods from sports—in order to reduce absenteeism.
Board members asked district staff for a deeper analysis of chronic absenteeism and tardiness after staff reported a district chronic-absence rate (discussed in the meeting as roughly 13 percent) and noted that some of that number may be driven by seniors. Trustees asked for a breakdown by grade and by reason so the district can identify where interventions and enforcement might reduce absences.
Several trustees suggested that enforcing existing participation rules (for example, prohibiting students who miss first periods from participating in games or practices that day) could be low-hanging fruit to lower high-school absenteeism. Staff agreed to analyze patterns (including whether absences cluster among seniors and athletes) and to return with a plan.
The board also noted disruptive chronic lateness at elementary schools—drops 10–15 minutes late—and requested district messaging to families about the importance of on-time arrival, school-night routines, and the classroom disruption caused by late arrivals. Staff said they will provide quarterly discipline and attendance updates and that they have begun deeper analysis to identify who the chronically absent students are and why.