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WHEELING -- Students on the path to missing more than 18 days of school during a 180-day school year could find themselves and their families in court for truancy.
Ohio County Schools has updated its attendance policy to be in line with that established last year by the West Virginia Department of Education, explained Raquel McLeod, attendance director for Ohio County Schools, during Monday's board of education meeting.
The biggest change in the policy is an effort to reduce "chronic absenteeism" in the schools, she noted. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing any more than 10% of instructional days during a school year, or 18 during the standard 180-day school year.
There are exemptions for absences due to buses not running or medical-related absences, but most all other absences are considered unexcused.
"The big focus through my office is finding those students who are (chronically absent) to see what we can do to help them get into school," McLeod said. "If they have medical issues, we will see what we can do as a school system to help them and their families get any resources they need."
McLeod also plans to make "meaningful contact" with families, which is defined as "two-way communication by a school official or a school district official with students and their parents or guardians.
The first contact will be made after three days of unexcused absences, and there will be additional contact after five days, McLeod told board members.
She noted she will need to document those contacts so that if the number jumps to 10 unexcused days she will have data to file when making a case with the Ohio County Prosecutors Office.
"It is about documenting everything we have done. Have we had a parent meeting? Have we had a team conference? Have we had a home visit?" she asked.
Texts will go out to those families of students with 10 or more unexcused absences. They will tell the families to contact McLeod for a discussion.
It is early in the school year, but McLeod estimates 15% of the school district’s students already have missed three to five days, setting them on the path to chronic absenteeism.
"We're being pro-active now rather than waiting until they get to 10 to file (a letter to families)," she said. "If we've looked at everything we've done with families, and it’s still not working, that’s when the Department of Youth Services becomes involved and they assign a youth worker. We work with them here ... If the parents and students don't follow that plan then it goes toward being filed as truancy with the prosecutor's office."
An unexcused absence is defined as any absence "not included in the definition of an excused absence," she continued.
While medical and dental appointments are excused, if they are early in the day and local students are expected to return to school for the remainder of the school day, McLeod explained.
If it is later in the day or maybe in Morgantown or Pittsburgh, it is unrealistic they can return in time and is considered an excused absence, she added.
Parents are allowed 10 written parent notes excusing their child for personal injury or illness under the policy.
Allowances are also made for students with chronic medical conditions that cause them to often miss school, McLeod continued. But forms must be filled out by the students physician, who also must estimate and indicate just how often the student might have to miss because of their illness.
McLeod was asked if she has anyone else go with her when she makes a home visit.
"It depends. If I know the family, I go by myself," she answered. Otherwise, she may take the school's prevention resource office or an administrator with her, she said.
The board is next scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the board office, 2203 National Road, Elm Grove.