Administrators and staff in the Warren County R-III School District are constantly searching for new interventions when it comes to keeping students in the classroom.While teachers are held to assessment standards by the state, for many of them the first challenge is actually having their students present on a consistent basis.Both school districts in Warren County have found it difficult to keep up with surrounding districts when it comes to attendance figures.“We are making attendance a priority,” said R-III Superintendent Jim Chandler. “I think sometimes it’s a struggle, not only in our county, but across the state.”In a comparison of 18 area schools, R-III fell near the bottom with an overall attendance rate of 94.6 percent from the 2015-16 school year. That was just above Wright City at 94.3 percent and right behind Troy at 94.8 percent.Silex topped the list with an attendance rate of 96.8 percent — considerably higher than any other area district.For the 2016-17 school year, R-III saw an increase over last year in its August attendance, but September and October figures were lower than those from a year ago.The 94.6 percent yielded from last year was the highest over the past seven years and showed improvement, but the district is still not where it would like to be.“As our community transitions, we’ve become a higher free-and-reduced district,” said Chandler.Warrenton High School faces the greatest challenge, with many students charged with motivating and transporting themselves to school.For the 2015-16 school year, the high school finished a 92.64 attendance percentage — a full two points behind any other building in the district.“One of the problems at the high school level is that some of the kids are making their own choices in getting to school,” said Chandler.While the three elementary schools boast the highest overall percentage, Rebecca Boone Elementary administrators feel they face a unique challenge.The building has the highest free-and-reduced lunch population in the district, indicating it may have more at-risk students with obstacles keeping them from consistent attendance.Principal Dr. Cheri Oliver feels the biggest barrier for students to overcome in regards to attendance is families understanding the importance of being in school consistently.“It is so important for our students to be at school on time, every day,” said Oliver. “Research has proven that missing 10 or more days of school can make it more difficult for students to learn to read. Students can fall behind even if they only miss a day or two per month.”The efforts to get students into the classroom at Rebecca Boone Elementary started before the school year even began. Along with transportation staff, teachers and administrators hosted bus barbecues in areas that traditionally yield low attendance.During those events, goals were set and calendars and alarm clocks were given out.But the push didn’t stop there. On top of daily, monthly and quarterly incentives, Oliver says her staff works outside of school hours to ensure students make it to school on a timely and consistent basis.“My staff makes wake-up phone calls and text messages to students in their classrooms to assist them in getting up in time to catch the bus,” she said.She says her building has seen a decrease in attendance this year.“We have an increase of families who are struggling with homelessness, financial constraints and family issues which is directly impacting our students’ ability to attend school,” explained Oliver, who says the school is partnered with outside resource groups and making every attempt possible to assist those at risk students and their families.“I think our elementary schools are going above and beyond in doing everything they can to give our kids the best opportunity they can to be in school,” said Chandler. “We just have to maintain focus that attendance is vital for our kids to have success.”Attendance