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WARREN – Warren City School District officials are urging the community to keep raising awareness of the importance of good school attendance, emphasizing that excellent attendance begins at home.
Associate Superintendent of Student Services Dante Capers said at Monday’s Board of Education meeting that daily attendance is improving and school enrollment is stable. Daily attendance has improved within the district over the past two years. Numbers show the district has an overall attendance rate of 92.6%; Pre-K-8 is above 93% and Warren G. Harding is at 90%, which is up 1% since last year, Capers said.
More than 800 students in grades 1-8 participated in the Heroes Tailgate program at a home football game. Another initiative to encourage good attendance is yard signs, with 430 “Attend Today, Succeed Tomorrow- Excellent Attendance Starts Here” signs. Only students with at least 97% attendance received yard signs.
"The Here Everyday Ready On Time" (HERO) program is another district initiative that encourages good attendance. Students with 95% attendance and no more than one tardy are part of that program, and 2,249 students were Heroes in October, Capers said.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as being absent 10% of the time, either excused or unexcused. Last year, chronic absenteeism decreased by 2.7%.
“Both the federal and state governments have determined that chronic absenteeism for any reason has an adverse effect on their belonging in school and also their academic impact,” Capers said.
The district has 4,529 students, which is down 77 from last year. Thirty-one students were lost because of a state-mandated earlier age cutoff for kindergarten. Harding had 27 fewer freshmen. In grades 1-12, there are 42 fewer students than last year. Seventy to 75% of those students were lost because they left the area.
Last year, more than 200 students were eligible for McKinney-Vento services. These students face homelessness. They may be living in a vehicle, a shelter or with a relative. Although the district addresses students facing housing insecurity, Capers raised a concern that the system may not be reaching all those students.
Since July 1, 517 students have withdrawn, and 467 new students have enrolled in the district, Capers said.
Akron Children’s Hospital has served more than 200 students at its satellite branch inside the new Student Recreation and Wellness Center at Warren G. Harding. Almost 2,000 students have been served by ACH since their program began in August 2022.
“This also translates to time savings because students are not missing as much class time,” Capers said.
WCS also partners with Vision to Learn, which provides vision screening to students. They do basic screening, and students who do not pass qualify for a full vision exam; 1,400 students received the full vision exam. Students who need corrected vision receive two pairs of glasses. Eighty-two students tested were referred to specialists because of significant vision issues.
Cadence Care Network provides behavioral and mental health services to district children. About 700 students received services last year.
SENATE BILL 19 UPDATE
Superintendent Steve Chiaro provided a policy update regarding Ohio Senate Bill 19, which is a sweeping education and academic intervention law signed by Gov. Mike DeWine that took effect Sept. 23. Its core provisions include:
* Free Academic Interventions – Public schools must provide evidence-based academic intervention services (such as high-dosage tutoring at least three days a week, extended time, or calendar adjustments) at no cost to students who score at a “limited” proficiency level in math, English language arts (ELA), or both on state or diagnostic assessments.
* Math Improvement Plans – Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, any school building or community school where 51% or less of students score proficient on the third-grade math state assessment must establish and submit a formal math achievement improvement plan to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
* Gifted and High-Achieving Math Acceleration – Sixth-grade students who score “advanced” on state math exams must be enrolled in a combined seventh- and eighth-grade math course, and subsequently placed in Algebra I in eighth grade (if they score proficient). Students scoring “accomplished” qualify under similar performance benchmarks, with provisions for parental opt-outs. Schools must offer advanced learning opportunities for high-achieving students in grades 3 through 5.
* Curriculum and Diagnostic Overhauls: ODEW is tasked with approving lists of up to six reading and six math diagnostic assessments for grades K-3, while prohibiting districts from administering multiple diagnostic providers to the same student.
* Patriotic Youth Organizations: School districts must provide designated patriotic youth organizations the opportunity to speak with students and distribute informational materials during school hours, with mandatory parent notification and opt-out options.
“We only have so many days until a policy is to become law. We have until Dec. 2 to pass the policy as it relates to Senate Bill 19,” Chiaro said.
He said he will communicate with the board in the next few weeks and provide the context for the new policy update that is required. The policy committee met last month and is on target with what they are required to do.
OTHER BUSINESS
Regarding the Tribune Chronicle’s Twenty Under 20 program, there will be a billboard on Elm Road on which the seven Harding students who were nominated for the program will be featured. On the evening of Dec. 9, Harding will be celebrating the Twenty Under 20 nominees at a banquet. Chiaro said the event usually sells out, so if any board members wish to join the celebration, they should let him know by Nov. 23.
Chiaro mentioned the district received an Orchid in the “Orchids and Onions” section of the weekend Tribune Chronicle, for the $1.15 million that business manager John Lacy and the administration have saved in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 through the alliance with the Ohio Schools Council (OSC). The OSC allows the Warren City School District to receive state-approved pre-bid contracts. Of more than 600 Ohio schools, WCS ranked fifth in cost savings.
Special projects administrator William Nicholson oversees the Turf Project, the new athletic and multipurpose surface at Harding's Student Recreation and Wellness Center. This is another OSC project. Chiaro said the hope is to have it completed before Thanksgiving. The turf had been in use for over 20 years and was tearing in some areas.
The tanks at the transportation depot are being remediated. The more than 30-year-old tanks were underground but, after the project is complete, will be above ground.
“We went to OSC looking for alternate bids," Chiaro said.
In other business, it was announced that the Trumbull County Superintendents Association has set up a meeting with Auditor-elect Edward Stredney and Commissioner-elect Kristen Rock on Dec. 15 at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center. On Dec. 1, Lacy and Chiaro will meet with Rock to discuss the allocation of money to the school district. Chiaro said that although Warren serves more than 19% of Trumbull County students, the Trumbull County Commissioners approved the American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant money to United Way of Trumbull County and said it can be used for anyone but Warren.
Chiaro also said he was pleased with the Warren City School District’s 4.6-mill, five-year levy renewal passage rate of 60% in the Nov. 3 election.
“It was great to see how the city of Warren electorate felt about the renewal," Chiaro said.