The Panorama School Board recently passed the first reading of their Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Policy.

Superintendent Kasey Huebner says that the policy’s first reading was held in the Board’s September meeting. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that this revised policy comes after a bill was passed by the Iowa Legislature in the 2024 session and then signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds.

“You know, research has been that being at school is one of the indicators of student success. So, that’s what this policy is intending to do. We do intend to bring that policy back right before our work session on a special board meeting on the 18th (of September) to get that approved, and we’ll communicate that out to families on what that means. And really, we’re going to operate as is, and we’ll just have that conversation with individuals that meet those different percentage thresholds. And at the end of the day, if kids are at school, then we won’t have to worry about what to do.”

Huebner mentions that the thresholds where they begin checking with students and families on absences is at 10 percent of days missed in a grading period, 15 percent of days missed, and 20 percent of days missed. He adds that when a student reaches the 20 percent threshold, then the school is required to get in touch with the Guthrie County Attorney.