Schools recognize students who never miss a day of school. In some schools, attendance is rewarded with the promise of frozen treats at lunch. Area school districts are using a wide variety of techniques and incentives to encourage students to attend classes. In the future, those efforts may include using county resources to curb truancy. "We need other people to understand the seriousness of this problem," Warren County R-III Superintendent Dr. John Long said. In an effort to boost attendance, the Wright City R-II and R-III school districts have joined forces in sending a letter signed by all 14 school board members promoting the need for a countywide truancy officer similar to one currently being used in Lincoln County. The school districts are exploring the feasibility of using a sheriff's deputy or juvenile officer to check on the whereabouts of students who rack up unexcused absences. "Both districts have continually done new things to raise attendance," said David Buck, R-II assistant superintendent and former high school principal at Warrenton. "Some of that has bared fruit, but not enough. It's been slow. I think we need a little bit more bite for getting kids here that should be here. "We have investigative powers within the boundaries of our school, (but) we don't have investigative boundaries out to the community." Higher attendance rates are required for both county school districts to meet state standards. Both districts failed to meet those benchmarks during the 2007-08 school year. School districts also would benefit from better attendance by receiving more money from the state. In the R-II district, last year's attendance reached only 93.8 percent. The high school attendance rate was the lowest in the district at 92.7 percent. The attendance rate in the R-III district last year was 93.1 percent. Similar to Wright City, the high school was the lowest at 90.7 percent. Compared to surrounding school districts, those figures are disappointing Buck and Long both say. Nearby districts' attendance figures range from 93.8 percent (Montgomery County) to 95.6 percent (Hermann). "There is no reason we can't have that," Buck said. As of Jan. 31, attendance in the R-II District was at 94.24 percent, according to Buck. However, he noted experience demonstrates attendance rates decline as the warmer weather arrives. Buck said attendance figures from school districts in Lincoln County show how a truancy officer can be productive. Troy has a attendance rate of 94 percent, but Silex does even better at 96 percent. The truancy officer spends one day a week at each district and also make home visits when needed, Buck pointed out. When the conversation does begin with county officials, Long said the subject of funding will be an issue. Currently, Warren county school districts pay half of the salary for school resource officers. School officials say they would be open to a similar arrangement, but the question of who would pick up the remaining half is still an unknown according to Long. Both Circuit Court Judge Keith Sutherland and Prosecutor Mike Wright are open to considering a truancy officer position. However, both said they were apprehensive regarding funding. "There are a lot of players who have to come on board," Sutherland said. Buck and Long emphasized both school districts aren't trying to pursue students who have legitimate reasons for not being in school, such as illness. But it's those students they describe as "chronic absentees" that the districts want to get back in their classes on a more regular basis. By law, all students 16 and under must attend school. "Kids need to be in school where they can get an education," Long said. "It becomes difficult to differentiate what kids are legitimately sick and those who aren't." Buck added: "We are willing to pursue anything. We have the need. I know that. We are trying to find a solution to that need."