Chronic school absences are dropping in Grand Forks

(KNOX) – After one semester of a new school attendance policy, Grand Forks Central and Grand Forks Red River High Schools are above 95 percent attendance rates.
The policy seeks to make reductions at 6, 10, 12 and 18 absence tiers.

Red River principal Jon Strandell shared reaction from a social studies teacher, who said the policy is a good start, “One way to promote workforce readiness in our schools is to have higher expectations for showing up.”

Student representative Adrianna Tande says students, friends, teachers and faculty are definitely talking about the policy.Board member Eric Lunn says it’s hard to argue with positive numbers.

The Grand Forks School Board moved to place plans for restroom accommodations for transgender students in the hands of school principals.
The board delegated the authority through the North Dakota Century Code.

The board also moved to approve $147,275 building fund dollars to replace a defective air handler for the 1989 addition of Kelly Elementary School.