CCISD Looks To Improve Chronic Absenteeism

The Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Multi Tiered Systems of Support Team works closely with local districts to implement positive behavior interventions and supports and evidence-based reading systems.

Districts that have been partnering with the ISD and Michigan’s Behavior and Learning Support Initiative have been successfully getting these systems in place.

Team members Kristina Penfold and Lynnette Borree gave an update on the team’s latest progress and current focus to the CCISD board at their regular monthly meeting.

Student outcomes have been positive, with fewer students having office discipline referrals and more students with positive reading outcomes.

The focus this year is on attendance.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school.

Currently approximately 17% of students within the CCISD are chronically absent.

The CCISD has been gathering data and reviewing research to assist local schools in decreasing chronic absenteeism.

Here is the full press release from the CCISD:

The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.

Kristina Penfold and Lynnette Borree, members of the CCISD Multi Tiered Systems of  Support Team gave the board an update on the ISD team’s latest progress and current focus.  The ISD team works closely with local districts to implement positive behavior interventions and supports and evidence based reading systems.  Districts that have been partnering with the ISD and Michigan’s Behavior and Learning Support Initiative have been successfully getting these systems in place. Student outcomes have been positive, with fewer students having office discipline referrals and more students with positive reading outcomes.  The focus this year is on attendance.  Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school.  Currently approximately 17% of students within the CCISD are chronically absent.  The CCISD has been gathering data and reviewing research to assist local schools in decreasing chronic absenteeism.

The Copper Country ISD Board voted unanimously to support a resolution that the CCISD fully supports the goal of collaborating throughout the state with other ISDs with the work of the Literacy Essentials Collaborative for the support of students in our local area and throughout the state.  Stockero informed the board that the Copper Country ISD is proactively addressing needs for ensuring success in literacy for all students.  This involves an Early Literacy Coach at the ISD level and a Literacy Leader in each elementary school.  The Coach and the Leaders are working together to continue the development of literacy skills throughout each district.  The Literacy Leaders have full support from their Principals and Superintendents in their efforts to improve literacy skills in each elementary school.  The Literacy Leader Network’s work is grounded by initiatives and resources provided by the Michigan Department of Education and General Education Leadership Network (GELN.)  The resources include essential instructional practices that are recommended for use in every classroom every day, and school-wide essentials in all schools.  Stockero informed the board that all the local Literacy Leaders have had an all- day meeting with the CCISD Literacy Coach that went very well.  They plan to come together in February. Stockero said that all the local superintendents and elementary principals are fully committed to working together to make sure our students get the help they need to obtain the necessary literacy skills.

Stockero shared with the board a Thank You card and note from the Houghton Middle School Robotics Team.  The ISD donated the use of a Button Maker and all the spare blanks.  The Robotics Team made 400 buttons to be given out to all the participants at the qualifying Robotics event hosted at Houghton Middle school.

The Board also acted on the following:

• Hired Mark Somero as a Helpdesk Technician for REMC1.
• Approved the final adoption of new and revised NEOLA policies.
• Passed a resolution supporting participation in Literacy Essentials Collaboration.