Attention to Attendance

The Greater Johnstown School District has collaborated with Attendance Works since 2019, and each year, has strengthened its commitment to making sure PreK-12 students are attending school as fully as possible. Attendance Works is a nonprofit organization that assists school districts with attendance awareness initiatives. Johnstown’s initiative to battle chronic absenteeism is currently in its fifth year and has generated very positive results.

Participating in the national discussion

Four administrators from the Greater Johnstown School District (GJSD) were recently invited to the nation’s capital to be presenters at a White House event held May 15, 2024 on the topic of chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing 10% or more days out of the school year. 

Johnstown was the only school that was selected from New York state, and the only small-city school district on the panel that is located in a rural community.

The event – “White House Every Day Counts Summit: Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Engaging Students” – featured representatives from four school districts across the nation. Each district presented an in-depth look at how they have tackled chronic absenteeism, the strategies they have implemented to support students and families, and the successes they have seen in increasing student attendance and engagement. 

Johnstown High School Principal Scott Hale presented on behalf of the district, with Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Crankshaw, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Nicole Panton, and Knox Middle School Principal Robert Kramer also in attendance.

Watch Johnstown High School Principal Scott Hale speak during the Every Day Counts Summit: Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Increasing Student Engagement recording on The White House YouTube channel:

View a recent Spectrum News 1 report that aired on May 14th, 2024, preceding the administrators’ visit to Washington DC.

“We have analyzed it from many different angles and narrowed in on the most common reasons our students were having difficulty getting to school. We’ve deployed initiatives and resources to help address the root of the issue and have seen tremendous success. I am extremely proud of the hard work that our administrative team has done to tackle this important issue and am thrilled to have their work be recognized on a national level.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Crankshaw

It REALLY pays to have good attendance in the Greater Johnstown School District!

Pleasant Avenue’s Attendance Team recently sponsored a “Wacky Dress Up Day”, encouraging families to work together with their students to come up with a silly outfit for a fun-filled day of school. Each student that participated was able to put a raffle ticket with their name on it into a box, with a chance to win a prize – including a story and snack with PA Principal Cory Cotter, and a class party to meet Max the therapy dog. 

The Attendance Team pulled additional tickets throughout the day and rewarded students with participation certificates and ice cream coupons to Stewart’s Shops. Winning students were given two coupons — one for them, and one to share with a family member, as a thank you to parents and guardians for also encouraging their students to have good attendance.