As part of its September meeting agenda, the Wright City R-II Board of Education reviewed the progress of its new truancy program with a detailed report from the district’s truancy officer that shows strong gains in attendance since the new program began last year.

“Attendance during the 2009-10 school year was up every month, except October when the flu hit,” Superintendent Chris Gaines told the board. “Our new truancy officer Jennifer Sommer is very effective.”

In her written report to the board, Sommer noted the importance of regular school attendance in maintaining the strength and vitality of the community.

Today’s students are the future of area, she conveyed in the report, and education prepares them to make positive contributions to society.  A good education also reduces risks that individuals will commit crime now and in the future, the report noted.

Sommer’s report showed a two-year (2008-09 and 2009-10 school years) comparison of attendance at each of the district’s schools. The report shows a jump in year-over-year monthly  attendance rates and a decline in unauthorized absences since the truancy officer program began last year. 

Percentage attendance rates at most buildings are up to the mid-90s from the low 90s and mid-80s in some buildings the previous year. Attendance at Wright City’s Middle School Academy was at more than 99 percent during some months late in the school year, a dramatic jump compared to the same months the previous year.

Sommer’s approach to truancy involves one-on-one contact with students, parents and consultations with school staff when information suggests students are skipping school. She calls, knocks on doors and transports students back to school when necessary.

She reported that from January through May 2010, she made nearly 500 student interventions through calls, meetings, school check-ins, and home visits.

“Intensive” interventions involving home visits, transportation and hearings, were about 28 percent of all truancy cases last school year.

“Moderate” interventions involving school check-ins and parent-student consultations represented 40 percent of all cases handled and “minimal” interventions — phone contact and meetings — represented slightly more than 30 percent of Sommer’s cases in 2009-10.

The report cited as key drivers for truancy parent and student indifference and negative past experience at school, instability at home, drug and alcohol use and abuse, and outside stressors that shift priorities.

Sommer reports that so far this year she is not seeing many of the same students who required intervention last year. “Most of the cases this year involve different kids who are reaching a critical level of absenteeism,” she said. 

Sommer says parent and community involvement are key to consistent gains over time. She said it is encouraging that the school district is receiving more phone calls from the community to report kids out on the street.

“One truancy officer can’t be in all places at one time; it takes the community being involved to really make a difference,” she noted. “We encourage people to call the school when they see kids who ought to be in school hanging out in their neighborhood or around town.”

She underscored that parents and guardians should be vigilant in making sure their kids are getting to class and receiving “the education they deserve.”

Warren County R-III and Wright City R-II school districts share the cost and benefits of Sommer’s services.