McCall, ID July 27, 2026– McCall Donnelly School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
As the school year approaches, I'd like to ask for a partnership in one of the most important factors in student success: daily school attendance. It may seem like a simple issue but attending school every day has a big impact—not only on a student's education, but also on the resources available to every classroom in the McCall-Donnelly School District.
Idaho public schools are funded through a complex formula that produces “support units” which essentially represents the cost to operate a classroom. A support unit is worth approximately $160,000. The number of support units a district receives (amount of money) is calculated using student daily attendance rates – not student enrollment. Low district attendance numbers result in fewer state dollars for the district.
A reduction in funding because of low attendance rates can be significant, and combined with increasing operational costs, could result in the need for budget adjustments. These adjustments could result in increased class sizes, fewer educational opportunities, or reductions in programs that benefit our students.
More importantly, attendance matters because students benefit from being in school. While family vacations and recreational opportunities are valuable, absences during the school year cannot be fully recreated through make-up work. Classroom discussions, hands-on learning, collaborative projects, and relationships with teachers and classmates all contribute to a student’s academic growth and social development. Even a few missed days can have a cumulative impact on academic progress, social connections, and school funding. As your superintendent, I respectfully ask for your partnership in making daily school attendance a priority. Whenever possible, I encourage families to schedule vacations and recreational activities during school breaks so that every student has the greatest opportunity to succeed. Doing so allows students to enjoy both meaningful family experiences and uninterrupted learning. Together every day counts.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Timothy T. Thomas at (208) 634-2161 or email at tthomas@mdsd.org.