News Summary
Virginia Fogleman, a student at Windsor Forest High School, shared her attendance challenges at a recent Savannah-Chatham County Board meeting. Alongside peers from the Student Senate, Fogleman highlighted issues such as COVID-19-related absences and transportation difficulties. Their concerns were echoed by a district Attendance Audit revealing inconsistency in attendance policies and notable barriers faced by students. With the board set to revise attendance policies in July, the students’ feedback may shape solutions to improve attendance rates across schools.
Savannah, Georgia – Virginia Fogleman, a student from Windsor Forest High School, presented her concerns regarding attendance challenges at the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education’s May Informal Meeting. Fogleman’s experience reflects larger systemic issues facing students in the district as they strive to attend school regularly.
During her address, Fogleman reported that she had missed five days of school this past year due to COVID-19-related illness. Utilizing an at-home COVID-19 test to confirm her illness, she had to stay home because of a fever, resulting in her parent-excused absences reaching their maximum limit. In addition, Fogleman encountered transportation problems when her car battery failed last month. This situation forced her to rely on friends for rides or to pay for Uber services, creating further barriers to her attendance.
Fogleman was joined by fellow members of Superintendent Denise Watts’s Student Senate, highlighting the attendance struggles faced by students across various schools. Another student, Diamond Higgins, a tenth-grader from Alfred E. Beach High School, expressed her view that the shift to online assignments rendered school less engaging for her and her peers. The students collectively pointed out numerous challenges impacting their ability to attend school regularly, including responsibilities such as caring for younger siblings and the necessity of balancing extracurricular activities and jobs.
The issues raised by the students at the board meeting align with findings from the district’s February Attendance Audit, which examined the implementation of attendance policies throughout various schools. This audit revealed notable inconsistencies in how policies were applied and monitored, leading to concerns about effective attendance management within the district.
The results of the audit indicated that 74.5% of students were absent for fewer than 10% of their enrolled days during the 2024-2025 school year, a slight increase from the previous year’s 74%. The board is scheduled to vote on revisions to the Compulsory Age Attendance policy in July, which are prompted by the audit’s findings.
Proposed changes to the attendance policy include clearly defined terms for truancy and chronic absenteeism, as well as criteria for remote schooling participation. Additionally, updates to the attendance waiver processes are being considered to create a more streamlined approach for students facing attendance difficulties.
The discussions at the board meeting centered around the language and details to be included in the updated attendance policies. The attendance audit reported that key reasons for student absences were primarily attributed to illness (24.2%), transportation issues (22.6%), and student refusal to attend school (12.9%). These factors highlight the systematic barriers that many students face and underscore the need for comprehensive solutions to improve attendance rates.
In conclusion, the challenges reported by Fogleman and her peers serve as a critical reminder of the various obstacles students encounter in their education. As the Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education moves forward with policy revisions aimed at addressing these issues, continued dialogue between school officials and students may be essential in fostering a supportive learning environment.
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- Google Search: Savannah-Chatham County attendance challenges
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Author: STAFF HERE SAVANNAH WRITER
SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER The SAVANNAH STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESavannah.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Savannah, Chatham County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Savannah Music Festival, St. Patrick's Day Parade, and Savannah Jazz Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Coastal Empire, plus leading businesses in aerospace, education, and logistics that power the local economy such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Colonial Group. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAtlanta.com and HEREAugusta.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Georgia's dynamic landscape.
