by Gabrielle Gervais
BARTON — Class is in session, and in unison with the recent passage of Act 122, Orleans Central Supervisory Union (OCSU) says it is working to increase student attendance rates and tackle chronic absenteeism with compassionate, proactive support for students and families.
The new law, effective as of July 1, defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10 percent or more of an approved school year, whether the absence is excused or not. As the bill states, “this shift de-centers truancy and punitive responses and focuses instead on the importance of prevention, connection, and support.”
In a letter to the school community, Superintendent Jackie Ramsay-Tolman wrote, “We absolutely have a responsibility to follow the law, but our goal is bigger than compliance. We want to notice concerns earlier, reach out sooner, and work together with families before a few missed days become a bigger concern.”
To help accomplish that goal, the supervisory union hired Danielle Greenwood as its school-to-home coordinator, a brand-new role as of this year. The Chronicle spoke with Ms. Ramsay-Tolman, Alison Kidder, who is starting her first year as assistant director of student support services, and Ms. Greenwood, to learn more about the initiative. ….
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