Despite New Year attendance drops, SJSD expects to end school year on a good note

The second semester is well underway and attendance rates at the St. Joseph School District have dropped.

District leaders are hopeful that a single seasonal blip won't deter them from meeting their attendance goals.

Attendance currently stands at 84.1% for the school year as a whole, with absences since classes resumed earlier this month due primarily to winter illnesses causing a dip, officials report.

"We're very hopeful because we have not, ever since the pandemic, started out this strong," said Dr. Kendra Lau, director of school improvement. "And so we're hopeful. We also know our goal is 90%. We're not there yet, but we are three and a half percentage points above where we were last year."

The increase in percentage points have been thanks to not just incentives offered to students, but by staff throughout the district. 

"Well, to be blunt, I literally dress as a fairy in a tutu and run around the halls and dance and get my kids going," said Sara Stein, an attendance interventionist for Hosea and Hyde elementary schools. 

Wendy Lysaght an attendance interventionist at Spring Garden Middle School, said after the pandemic, it was hard to get students back to school.

"I think we're starting to see that turn around, that, 'Hey, we can do this,' 'Hey, we can make a difference,'" said Lysaght. "We can get the kids back."

Lau said the District is about three and a half percentage points above where it was at, this time last year. 

The improved percentage can be attributed to incentives and having staff members in positions like Lysaght and Stein.

"I am also one that will make phone calls, catch them out in the parking lot, talk to them. You know, get that, you know, relationship built," said Stein. "I'm always there. I tell them, you struggle, flat tire, something comes up. Don't hesitate. Call me, I got permission. I can come pick your kiddo up, get 'em to school, make sure they're there on time."

Lysaght said she's worked with the District for 16 years and in doing so, she's seen SJSD's attendance at its peak before the pandemic. 

"Once the pandemic hit, it was really difficult to get people back into the schools. Whether it was fear, whether it was, they felt like they could do it at home, whatever their reasoning was. It was difficult to get them back," said Lysaght.

Another way both Lysaght and Stein are trying to encourage students to come to school, by participating in friendly competitions against other SJSD schools. 

"It's a friendly competition, and those are the things kids want," said Lysaght. 

"I'm going to try to set up where we kind of challenge other elementary schools, call them out, see if we can't get your attendance to come up with ours," said Stein. 

Although school may seem over-rated to some students and parents, Stein said going to school is important. 

"They're not just learning, you know, to count to 100 and learn their ABC's," said Stein. "They're learning so much more than that, just in the first 30 minutes of the day."

Lau said the District is tracking attendance numbers to end the 24-25 school year with an attendance rate that's above 80%.