September is Attendance Awareness Month in the United States.
Schools across the United States are measured by chronic absenteeism. “Be Present, Be Powerful” is the theme for 2024.
“It’s a metric we can use to see how often our kids are coming to school. We believe that, when they’re present in school, we can instill a quality education for them,” said Waynesboro Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Ryan Barber at Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Waynesboro School Board. “It’s really hard for teachers to do the great work they’re doing if they kids aren’t in the classroom.”
In an effort to improve absenteeism in Waynesboro, the school system has hired three social workers, three Attendance Liaisons and created a Truancy Board, a multi-disciplinary team who supports students and families.
“Hopefully, to give families the support they need with truancy issues before having to access court services,” Barber said.
Students also now have opportunities to attend after-school programs to make up absences.
According to Barber, the effort has paid off because five of the school system’s seven schools are level 1 for absenteeism. A year ago, only one school was level 1.
“So, we’ve made pretty significant growth there. We have one school that’s level 2 and we have one school that’s level 3, so we still have work to do,” Barber said. “But the things we’ve done already are making a difference and we are definitely seeing increased attendance.”
Walk to School Week for 2024 will be October 7 to 11, 2024 in Waynesboro. Students will walk to Kate Collins Middle School on October 7, Berkeley Glenn Elementary School on October 8, Wenonah Elementary School on October 9, Westwood Hills Elementary School on October 10 and William Perry Elementary School on October 11.
Motorists and community members are encouraged to remain alert for students, parents and staff walking during that week in October.
Barber told Waynesboro School Board that he and other administrators visited a Recovery High School in Chesterfield and have applied to create such a high school in Waynesboro for the 2025-2026 school year.
“That’s a potentially really exciting opportunity,” Barber said.
He added that a few students did not graduate Waynesboro High School and Augusta County Schools high schools in May because of addictions.
As recently reported by Augusta Free Press, 30 eviction notices were issued for Brandon Ladd Apartments in Waynesboro.
Barber said that homelessness is “a gaping wound across our nation and world,” but 30 families in Waynesboro are on the docket to face eviction.
“It’s a really gaping wound, I think, in our community,” Barber said.
Related stories:
30 renters evicted from Brandon Ladd Apartments in Waynesboro (augustafreepress.com)
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Rebecca Barnabi
