WARREN Schools work on lowering truancy

Incentives are helping to get pupils off the streets and into the classroom.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Gordon Hazen leads by example.
The city school district's supervisor of student and community services, whose duties include tracking absenteeism, says he likes to practice what he preaches.
Hazen was one of 25 district employees honored in November by the board of education for perfect attendance during the 2000-2001 school year.
He said he's maintained good attendance in his more than 30 years in education and tries to make it to work even when he's got the sniffles.
Improvement goal: Superintendent Betty J. English said pupil and staff attendance is one of the district's continuous improvement goals.
The state says Warren should have 93 percent attendance for pupils. It's at 91 percent.
"We will get there," English told the board of education last week. "We have no doubt about that."
Hazen said the district's attendance has improved by 1 percent in the last two years.
Statistics from the 1998-99 school year show an average of 610 pupils were absent on a typical day, 362 of them unexcused.
It was then the district, which has only one truancy officer, enlisted the help of local police in combating excessive absences.
Ordinance: City council also passed an ordinance outlining a day curfew that makes it illegal for pupils to be on the streets instead of in the classroom during school hours.
The first sweep of truancy offenders by Trumbull County Juvenile Court officials and truancy officers from Warren schools and the Trumbull County Educational Service Center recently netted about 50 area pupils.
Court officials said similar sweeps will take place about every three months during the school year.
It's hoped that getting pupils into juvenile court will show them and others that officials are serious about cracking down on truancy.
Others recognized: Twenty teachers also were recognized recently for having classrooms with outstanding attendance last year.
One of them, Ann Bishoff, led her fourth-grade class at Alden Elementary School to qualify for the honor because it maintained 95 percent attendance every month for eight months.
Her class had the best attendance rate in the district last year.
Bishoff's class also was honored at a recent luncheon at Avalon Inn for having perfect attendance in October.
Avalon has teamed up with the district to provide a free catered lunch each month to the elementary classroom in Warren with the best attendance.
Hazen said pupils are given a certificate of commendation at Avalon, along with a $10 gift certificate to use at the restaurant when accompanied by an adult.
More incentives: Area restaurants, banks and other businesses participate in the attendance incentives program, offering gift certificates for pupils and staff.
Old Country Buffet provides gift certificates for 40 to 60 children a month, Hazen said.
Middle and high school pupils are rewarded for attendance through food parties of their choice at the end of their grading periods.
Bishoff said she stresses good attendance because the fourth-grade proficiency test is so important.
She added that she takes no more than a few personal days each year.
Alden Principal Loree Richardson calls Bishoff humble, saying it's her teaching style and enchanting classroom that keeps kids coming back.
"She's a very special teacher," Richardson said. "She relates to [pupils] in such a way that they want to be here. She excels."
Hazen told the board of education last week the attendance program won't work if educators don't push it.
"Good grades and good attendance go together."
davis@vindy.com