With the knowledge that every day students attend classes puts them at an academic and broader learning advantage, the Warren County R-III School District is focusing on how to improve average daily attendance.

School officials are looking for ways to raise the current level of 91 percent average districtwide attendance to between 93 and 95 percent.

High School Principal Jeremy Way, along with staff and students, have been tasked by administrators and the school board to make recommendations to help the district elevate its attendance standards across all schools.

The recommendations focus on incentives that district leaders believe will give kids a little extra motivation for getting into the classroom when they are healthy and able.

The package of incentives the group is considering — which will be presented to the board this month for implementation in the upcoming school year — includes lower costs for prom and other dance and event tickets, free admission to games and performances, and exemption from final exams not required by the state. 

Such rewards are being used successfully in other districts that face similar attendance issues, officials said. The district also has introduced a truancy officer, which is helping with attendance.

Student Kelsey Eaton told the board at its June meeting the exam exemption component is used in other schools in the area and around the United States. She said by her calculations, R-III is losing nearly $450,000 a year in state revenue for student absences.

Way said that while these numbers are significant, the main goal of the program is to hold students more accountable for being in class and taking full advantage of the time they have to receive a quality education that is increasingly important in today’s world. 

Expectations for attendance also helps prepare students for the work force, providing them with the discipline to show up for work every day and maximize their contributions.

“We know that when kids are here in class — instead of at home or elsewhere — they get a better education,” said Way, who notes that no one is advocating that kids with legitimate illnesses come to school sick. “We want kids to come to school every day they are physically able to.”

He said in talking with students, administrators and teachers have learned kids sometimes stay at home to help babysit and assist their parents when they are in a crunch.

“We want to raise the mentality that school is critically important,” he said.

Incentives have worked before, Way said. Two years ago, Zeiser Ford gave away a used car that was the grand prize in a drawing for students who met specific  attendance requirements.

“Basically, what we want to do through this program is reward those students who are doing the right things,” Way said.

As part of the broader plan, district officials also are looking at how to minimize time students are out of the classroom for extracurricular activities.