LIVE School Board Meeting: 9-2-26 (4:00 p.m.)

The Norfolk Public Schools Board held a work session on September 2, 2026, primarily focused on student attendance issues, including chronic absenteeism and dropout rates. The board received a detailed report highlighting a slight increase in chronic absenteeism to 18.5% and a decrease in dropout rates to 11.8%, the lowest since the 2023 cohort. Discussions emphasized the importance of early attendance habits starting in preschool, the impact of medical issues and transportation challenges on attendance, and ongoing efforts to support students through attendance technicians and graduation coaches. The board also discussed policy updates related to FMLA and school board organizational meetings, with a review of community use policies and fee schedules underway. Future agenda items include further examination of homebound student support, attendance data accuracy, and the use of surveillance cameras near schools. No specific contract awards or procurement decisions were made during this meeting.