The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees discussed chronic absenteeism and services for hearing impaired students during a public meeting on Tuesday.
Board members say since the pandemic they have seen higher rates of absenteeism, even having a task force dedicated to making changes in attendance.
They say typically when kids are not at school, it's not because they don't want to be there its often because of other reasons.
"So that might mean they don't have shoes to go to school and we provide those, or they need a trusted adult that makes them feel a part of the school community and so we facilitate that connection so that students feel a part of the school,” says Rachelle Murillo, Intervention Department Director.
As for services for hearing impaired students the superintendent issued a proclamation stating that September 2025 is now recognized as Deaf Awareness Month.
"It's great to have an interpreter around. It's also great teaching teachers and other students how to sign and learn and how they learn to be supportive," says Lucie Wilcox, 8th grader at Vaughn Middle School.
