Menominee work to improve school attendance

Tribal and education officials attempting to resolve chronic absence issues
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

Chronic school absenteeism has been a continual barrier to success on the Menominee Reservation, but officials are looking to convince families that daily school attendance is one of the best ways for the reservation to improve.

A public event Aug. 24 at the Menominee Family and Community Engagement Center in Keshena gave school and tribal officials a chance to interact with families and try to nail down what can be done to entice parents to make sure their kids are in school.

According to Wendell Waukau, superintendent for the Menominee Indian School District, the district averaged around 15% of its student population with chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing 15 or more days of school in a given school year. When the pandemic closed school districts and tribal action kept the reservation schools in virtual mode for more than a year, the number of students checking out from school doubled.

It’s not just a problem affecting the school district, either. Menominee Tribal School has also had some problems, so tribal departments like family services are teaming up to resolve the issue.

Mary Kramer, with Menominee Tribal Family Services, noted that there were activities at the community center for the children such as face painting, while parents sat down with school and tribal officials in “parent cafes” to discuss attendance problems and solutions. She acknowledged the tribe has been doing some things on the fly and hopes to get more families involved.

“We realize, as this was the first time we’ve done this, that we could have done a better job in telling you more,” Kramer said. “We’re anxious to engage in conversation.”

The effort is part of a 90-day plan that the tribe is in the middle of, with an expected completion around Sept. 30. Other efforts include providing more community updates and identifying the chronic absenteeism issues in the schools.

Hedy Chang, founder and executive director of Attendance Works in San Francisco, spoke remotely to the families in attendance at the community center. Chang said that taking a whole community approach is necessary to get at the heart of why families aren’t pushing for their children to go to school.

“As we are recovering from this pandemic, this downturn in attendance matters more than ever,” Chang said.

Waukau noted that having the resources to help will do little good unless families get more involved in their children’s education.

“We’re very fortunate to use these resources from Attendance Works, but we need you,” Waukau said.


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com