SAD 46 looking to fill two vacant positions

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — SAD 46 School Board chairman Steve Crane began the April 3 meeting with a moment of silence to honor two board members who had recently died. The board honored past member Allen Ross, of Dexter, who died on March 10 and current director Allan Thomas, of Garland, who died on March 13.

    The school board also accepted the resignation of Ripley member Julie Harding. She sent her resignation via e-mail. Harding said time constraints prevented her from devoting the proper attention to her school board duties.
    In other action, Ridge View Community School Principal Paula McHugh provided the directors with an attendance summary for the past two school years. RVCS students in pre-kindergarten to grade four had a 93.52 percent daily attendance mark from August 2011 to March 14, 2012. There were 22 students — 6 percent of school enrollment — absent 20 or more days. Another 22 students missed between 16-19 days.
    From August 2012 to March 14, 2013, daily attendance was 93.94 percent for pre-kindergarten to grade four students. Twenty-three students missed 20 or more days. Fourteen students — 4 percent — were absent 16-19 days.
    For grades 5-8, daily attendance was 93.58 percent. Twenty students — 7 percent — were absent for 20 or more days from August 2011 to March 14, 2012. Eleven students, 4 percent — were absent between 16 -19 days.
    From August 2012 to March 14, 2013 grade 5-8 student attendance was 94.43 percent. Twenty-one students were absent for 20 or more days. Eight students were absent between 16-19 days.
    McHugh’s report also documented reasons for extended student absences. The report indicated that two students missed school due to delayed school registration, two for chronic illness or hospitalization; 13, of which six were kindergarteners, for sickness, weather, family issues, or trips; and six pre-kindergarten students due to transportation or illness issues.
    For grades 5-8, students missing 20 or more days were five students due to chronic illness or hospitalization, two were home-schooled and 14 others were for sickness, family issues, weather or trips.
    McHugh indicated that school officials followed up these prolonged absences by sending letters to the homes, making phone calls, contacting truancy officers and scheduling meetings with the students and parents.
    The board will meet next at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, May 1 in the RVCS cafeteria.