Hollister
– Kids playing hooky and Hollister’s sewer moratorium might not
seem clearly linked. But both were contributing factors in school
attendance numbers released by the state this week, according to
local educators.
Hollister – Kids playing hooky and Hollister’s sewer moratorium might not seem clearly linked. But both were contributing factors in school attendance numbers released by the state this week, according to local educators.
During the fall semester of 2006-07, San Benito High School’s average daily attendance was 2,931, up from 2,898 during the first semester of 2005-06. That’s mostly because overall enrollment at the high school increased. However, the percentage of enrolled students in attendance daily at the high school dipped slightly in fall of 2006 to 93.36 percent, down from 93.57 percent during fall of 2007.
In the elementary and middle schools of the Hollister School District, average daily attendance during fall of 2006 was 5,710, down from 5,803 during fall of 2005. While the percentage of students in attendance daily was up, 96.08 percent in fall of 2006 compared to 95.77 percent in 2005, declining overall enrollment in the district caused the drop in average daily attendance.
Tim Foley, San Benito County superintendent of schools, said the enrollment drop in the elementary and middle schools is primarily due to the sewer moratorium, which has essentially halted home construction here since 2002, holding growth in check.
“There is a factor of lack of growth due to the moratorium. We very much look forward to that being lifted,” Foley said. “Without growth, we’re in a difficult position because there will not be an increase in funding.”
The decline in enrollment could cost Hollister School District around $500,000 in state funding this year.
Average daily attendance is a strong factor in determining state funding for local school districts. The state provides a certain revenue limit, which can average from $5,500 to close to $7,000 per unit of average daily attendance, depending on the type of district.
Enrollment and student absences can both affect a school district’s average daily attendance.
Because of its enrollment increase, San Benito High School could see an estimated gain of $200,000 over last year.
But high school officials are concerned that absenteeism has risen this year.
“It’s very important that (students) come, because if they don’t come, we don’t receive funding,” said Jim Koenig, director of finance and operations for San Benito High School District.
Even with relatively stable average daily attendance rates, student attendance is expected to be a continued focus among administrators and staff at local districts, because this can be fixed more easily than enrollment numbers.
Mike Sanchez, the alternatives program director for the San Benito County Office of Education, is creating a school attendance review board. The board will work with students and families who have continuing attendance problems, and try to remove the barriers in their way of attending, rather than dealing with them punitively.
“We want to develop a cadre of folks that come together in the best interest of students and families to be able to help them with their attendance issues,” Sanchez said.
Jan Grist, a seventh-grade world history teacher at Marguerite Maze Middle School, said student attendance is a continuing concern among teachers, and not only because of the loss in funding. She said it’s difficult for students to learn when they are not in school every day.
“It’s absolutely essential that every child go to school every day,” Grist said. “One is to learn and get the education they deserve, and two is because that’s how schools are paid. If they’re not in their seat, the school gets zero money.”
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. You can reach her at 637-5566 ext. 336 or at [email protected].
