MEREDOSIA SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESSING ABSENTEEISM

MEREDOSIA — The Meredosia-Chambersburg school board is looking at possible policy changes as officials work to address ongoing student absenteeism concerns.

Junior High School Principal Kirk Graham told the board that student absences were particularly high during the first quarter of the school year, largely due to illness.

Superintendent Thad Walker has asked the board to consider setting a limit on the number of school days a student can miss before being held back a grade. Walker said he plans to work with the school’s attorney to develop a policy that would set either a specific number of absences or a percentage of missed school days. If approved, the policy would be included in the district’s student handbook.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10 percent of school days without a valid excuse. According to the Illinois State Board of Education’s Illinois Report Card, Meredosia-Chambersburg’s chronic absenteeism rate was 34.7 percent in 2025.

While that figure represents an improvement from 58.8 percent in 2024, 58 percent in 2023 and 75 percent in 2022, it remains higher than the state average of 25.4 percent.

School leaders say absenteeism rose sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic and, while improving, continues to be a challenge for districts across Illinois.

In other business, Graham said he was disappointed with the number of school staff members attending after-school events such as Family Nights. He said he would like to see more participation and visibility from staff members at school-related community activities.