At last week's Northfield School Board meeting, Hope Langston, director of institutional services, told board members that the Minnesota Department of Education's new goal was to have a 95% attendance rate.
Langston said that while consistent attendance has long been a statewide priority, recent data shows that is students miss more than 17 days of a 172-day school year there are usually consequences.
"Here in Northfield, we have 93% attendance in class on any given day," she said.
Langston explained the two definitions of absence are chronic absences, which are reported absences and truancy, which are unexcused absences. She showed charts that broke down the absence rates for the three elementary schools, the middle school and the high school. Other attendance metrics she showed broke down the absences according to ethnic definitions.
"We have our work cut out for us," said Langston.
She emphasized that the state coding metrics showed some inconsistencies because not all school district count absences the same way.
School board member Amy Goerwitz asked for an explanation about partial day absences, to which Langston replied that the elementary schools count morning and afternoon as two different time periods, which the middle school and high school count absences by class periods.
Board member Jeff Quinnell asked if there was any way that the data collected could track which classes students were skipping. Langston said she would look to see if the tracking drilled down that specifically.
Board member Jenny Nelson asked what the consequences were for prolonged or multiple absences, to which Langston replied that those policies are laid out in the handbooks and generally include attendance contracts that are reviewed on a case by case basis.
Northfield School District Superintendent Matt Hillmann said the excused absences may be even trickier after the Covid-19 protocols advised that parents keep their children home from school if they felt sick.
"This has been such a disruptive time," said Hillmann. "We are a microcosm of society. During Covid everyone was told to stay home if they were sick."
Board member Goerwitz asked if parents were confused by the messaging from schools about keeping sick children home. Langston replied that there was a "while range of reasons" for students with excused absences. She suggested that perhaps parents should make some better choices when planning a family trip during non-school holidays.
"We want parents to make good choices," she said. To be more aware with how they can control a student's absences by simply adhering to the school calendar.
Board member Nelson asked if the data showed what classes students were skipping, if they were electives or core classes. Langston answered that data doesn't track classes, only the class periods.
"We as a board believe in attendance," said Claudia Gonzalez-George, board president. But, she added that behind every absence there's a human element to why a student may be kept at home rather than attend school. Fortunately, the district provides navigators and team members who connect with families to learn the reason behind the absence.
"It's a big topic," said Langston, who added that she would be "happy to slice and dice" additional data for the board to consider.
The board adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m. The next meeting of the Northfield School Board will be Monday, April 22 at 6 p.m. in the District Office Boardroom, 201 Orchard St. South.
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