WELLSVILLE — During Monday’s meeting of the Wellsville Board of Education, the district’s principals updated board members on their attendance numbers and what they are doing to decrease absenteeism in their schools.

Jr. Sr. High Principal Allison Scott said the building as a whole was at a 91% attendance rate and with a current chronic absenteeism rate of 36.75%. The school’s goal is 26.1%.

Of the 36.75% of the students with chronic absenteeism, 43% are listed as satisfactory; 22% are at risk, 24% are considered moderate and 11% are considered severe.

She noted that the 11th grade, which had the highest attendance rate at 94%, has increased their attendance, while the 12th grade had the lowest attendance rating at 87%.

The school is working on an adopt-a-senior program to try to get that percentage higher.

Daw Principal Erin Clemmer said that the buildings attendance percentages by grade are currently third grade at 94.18%, fourth grade at 94.59%, fifth grade at 94.41% and the sixth grade is at 94.61%.

Garfield Principal Shelbie Householder said, “We continue to emphasize early intervention through our MTSS framework and are monitoring attendance as families settle back into school routine.”

Householder told board members that the students have been transitioning well coming back from winter break, with the teachers re-establishing routines, focusing on literacy instruction and supporting the students socially and emotionally.

She also said that for the early literacy momentum, there is continued implementation of structured literacy practices, strong tier 1 instruction and the teachers are using small-group instruction to meet diverse needs.

Garfield will have another Scholastic Book Fair in the Spring which will be paired with a family engagement night.

“Overall, the building is in a really good place as we head into the second half of the year,” Householder said.

Clemmer said that Daw, in partnership with the Wellsville Junior Tigers and the Community Resource Center, handed out 150 bags of shelf stable food to students in pre-K through 12th grade over winter break and they were recently awarded a Stronger Connections grant of $3,000, which they used to purchase exercise and movement equipment like dumb bells, battle ropes, yoga mats, medicine balls, boxes for jumps and more.

An after-school dance will be held next week as the PBIS behavior award for fifth- and sixth-grade students, and a board game night will be held for third- and fourth-grade students.

Scott said NWEA testing will begin on Jan. 28 with all students in grades seventh through 12th being tested in reading and math. Eighth-grade students will also be tested in science.

She also noted that she and Beth Swogger, guidance counselor, will be attending the Columbiana County Career Tech pilot overview on Jan. 23.

The school used a Stronger Connections grant to purchase a new stair master and elliptical for the weight room and health classes.

The school’s next community engagement day will be Jan. 22 at 9 a.m.

The school will hold an induction ceremony for the National Honor Society on Wednesday, with six juniors and one senior being inducted.

Winter homecoming will be Jan. 31.

Athletic Director Kyle Exline said that he has reviewed and vetted 11 applications for the head football coaching position and has narrowed it down to four to five applicants which he will begin interviewing next week.

He noted that the spring sports schedule is complete, and staffing is nearing completion as staff complete coursework and credentialing.

He also said that the trophy case is empty right now due to it being remodeled.

Garfield Students of the Month for January are Alexandria Webber and John Shaw, both second graders.

January Students of the Month for Daw are Ethan Curtis, third grade; Macy Wilson, fourth grade; Nevaeh Springer, fifth grade; Brantley Mercer, sixth grade and Damarion Paolini, ESC Unit.

For the Jr. Sr. High, January Students of the Month are Luca Saraniti, Jr. High; Austin Dotson, Sr. High and Rebecca Phillips as the Care and Share Senior of the month.

During the new business portion of the meeting, board members approved 12 donations totaling $300 for the bowling team; $1, 350 for warmups for the track team and $253.65 for the athletic fund.

They also approved a band field trip to Duquesne University, NEOLA policies and resolutions authorizing the district superintendent to hire and accept staff resignations between board meetings.

Under fiscal matters, board members approved the treasurer’s report as presented to them, the tax budget, a memorandum of understanding between the district and Kent State University, the proposal from Radi-O-Sound Communications and the customer service agreement between Unifirst and the district.

For personnel, board members approved 12 coaches and volunteer coaches.

They also accepted the resignation for head varsity football coach Jim Tsilimos effective Dec. 18. Interviews for a new coach will begin next week.

Board members voted to enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and returned to an open meeting forum with no action taken.

The Wellsville Board of Education meets the third Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the media center at the Wellsville Jr. Sr. High School. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23.