The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District will host a School Attendance Community Forum on Thursday, February 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Greensboro Auditorium. The Forum will bring together district administrators and representatives from law enforcement, child protective services, youth court and local churches to discuss the importance of school attendance for student learning, and share facts about the impact of chronic absenteeism and the consequences of truancy. In addition, attendees will hear selections from the Starkville High School Gospel Choir. Members of the Mississippi State Football team will be in attendance to talk to students and parents and sign autographs, and door prizes will be available.
"We are very appreciative of Mississippi State Athletics for their partnership on this event," said Haley Montgomery, Director of Communications for the district. "We talked to their staff about how we can help our students connect the dots between what they are doing in the classroom now and how the simple step of school attendance can make or break their ability to do what they want for the future. MSU got on board to have men's and women's basketball players create a video to share their future plans off the court and how attendance before college is a necessary first step. We are excited to showcase what they have to say."
In addition to sharing the player video, MSU Football player and Connerly Trophy nominee, Isaac Smith, will attend the event to share a school attendance message, and several other players including Starkville's own Braylon Burnside are expected to be on-hand to sign autographs.
"The involvement of MSU Athletics is just one piece of what we have planned for Thursday," said Karen Robinson, SOCSD Parent Liaison. "The goal of the forum is really to help parents and students hear from multiple sectors of the community about how school attendance and chronic absenteeism impacts not only students, but entire families and our community as a whole."
Mrs. Robinson often has boots on the ground when it comes to responding to absenteeism in the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. She acts as an advocate for parents and families as they navigate the impacts of absenteeism, securing mentors for students if needed, attending youth court proceedings to make sure parents understand the process, and visiting schools and homes to make contact with students who are on the verge of truancy.
According to information provided by the Mississippi Department of Education, missing just two days of school per month can add up to chronic absenteeism for a student. Days missed from school, whether excused or unexcused, negatively impact a child's success in the classroom. Missing those two days of school each month is the equivalent of missing 10% of the school year, making students more likely to fall behind academically and ultimately less likely to graduate.
"The district is committed to helping students take that all-important first step in mastering the skills needed to grow and achieve -- simply coming to school," said Dr. Vernita Wilson, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum. "But it's a complex problem to solve. That's why we are trying to be proactive in bringing other community members together to discuss the problem and share facts."
As part of the event, SOCSD will host a panel discussion to answer questions like what constitutes truancy, what are the consequences, how does absenteeism impact other aspects of our community and more. Panel members will include Judge Leigh Ann Turner, who presides over Youth Court, representatives from Child Protective Services who will share about educational neglect, and Reverend Dr. Ronnie Tucker, pastor of Mt. Pelier Missionary Baptist Church. In addition, SOCSD Jacket Police Liaison Chief Sammy Shumaker and a representative from the Starkville Police Department will join to discuss the risks to youth who are on the street rather than in the classroom. SOSCD principals, Ra'mon Forbes and Dr. Watress Harris will also participate in the panel to address the impact to student learning when students chronically arrive late or leave school early.
"We find from school advocacy organizations like Attendance Works, that students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others," said Anna Guntharp, SOCSD Assistant Superintendent for Federal programs. "Those absences are often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care. So absenteeism can be a predictor of other family issues. Our hope is that resources like those available through the district's Discovery Center can help address some of those concerns for our families."
Representatives from the Discovery Center will have a table at the Community Forum to share information about what's available for homeless or displaced students, job training resources for parents, as well as a variety of workshops designed to build parenting skills, aid in financial issues and connect families to available resources.
The School Attendance Community Forum will be held on Thursday, February 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Greensboro Auditorium and the public is invited. Both parents and students are encouraged to attend. For more information about the Community Forum, contact Haley Montgomery, SOCSD Director of Communications at hmontgomery@starkvillesd.com or 662.615.0021.
