Both Mount Vernon and Lisbon have amended their school attendance policies to be reflective of changes required at the state level.

For the majority of parents in the Mount Vernon and Lisbon School systems, running awry of these policies is very unlikely, especially with the interventions both schools have set up to remind students and parents of how close they are to the thresholds throughout semesters and the school year. Yet both schools are raising awareness so they are in compliance and educating parents of the changes now before problems will arise.

The policy is addressing a trend that has been spotted both statewide and nationally, that there is an increase of absenteeism from schools that began after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lisbon secondary principal Jack Leighty said it was a goal of the district to increase attendance, as the district slipped in that metric in the past year back at the August school board meeting.

Mount Vernon has had an attendance panel prior to this new law from the state, so much of what happens at the district up to the first four unexcused absences will look the same to parents. It’s what happens after those four absences that is new.

As Mount Vernon and Lisbon both noted – students who.have illnesses will always be excused absences, and they can make up class work they miss while sick. The best option for students who are sick, just like employees who are under the weather, is to stay home and not spread illnesses where possible.

Linn County district attorney office has also let schools know unless a case is severe and all other interventions have been attempted, they are not interested in pursuing these cases.

For schools, as Mount Vernon’s superintendent Matt Leeman said, the mission remains to educate students and implement these policies in a way that isn’t punitive and has multiple points of contact before a student has to make up any lost credits.