The district reported that it received 86 requests for attendance hearings in the prior school year and held 47 formal hearings, with those students missing a combined total of about 2,100 school days. "We had 86 different requests last year for hearings. We had a total of 47 hearings held," Dr. Walter Lambert told the board. Lambert said the 47 hearings represent roughly 0.8 percent of the student population when counting initial thresholds, and that, when including other cases, the group with chronic absence represents about 1.4 percent of students. He said about half of the 2,100 missed days were excused and half unexcused, and only about 19 percent of cases had medical documentation. "Usually unexcused means they're not calling in," Lambert said, noting that the district works with families and, when necessary, files educational-neglect referrals with the prosecutor's office if families do not respond to hearings. Lambert said high schools generated the largest share of hearings (about 68–69 percent of the requests), with middle and elementary schools accounting for fewer cases. The report said some hearings produced improved attendance and that the administration is scheduling earlier hearings this year to address emerging patterns.