by Kate Evans
Morgan County Schools Assistant Superintendent Jeromy Duelley reported on the end-of-year attendance data at the June 3 Morgan County School Board meeting. Dr. Robert Dugan, Curriculum and Attendance Coordinator, helped with the presentation.
The end-of-the-year percentage of Morgan County Schools students considered chronically absent in the fourth quarter of the 2024-2025 school year was 25%. In the first quarter the total was 29%. Second and third quarter percentages were both 26%, said Duelley. 
School percentages
The percentage of county students being chronically absent by school in the fourth quarter were Berkeley Springs High School-29%, Paw Paw Elementary-21%, Warm Springs Middle School-28%, Paw Paw High School-23%, Pleasant View Elementary-21%, Widmyer Elementary-27% and Warm Springs Intermediate School-18%.
In the first quarter Berkeley Springs High School had 32% chronically absent students, Paw Paw Elementary had 30% and Widmyer Elementary had 35% chronically absent students.
Intervention
Duelley said there was a total of 4,557 three-day contacts as part of the entire school year’s attendance intervention data, with 3,923 of those three-day contacts coming from Widmyer Elementary. There were also 843 five-day letters sent, 115 multi-disciplinary team meetings and nine home visits.
Attendance awards
Assistant Superintendent Duelley said student attendance awards for the entire year totaled 73 perfect attendance awards (0 absences), 97 outstanding attendance awards (.5-2 absences) and 189 faithful attendance awards. (2.5-4.5 absences)
Duelley said that teachers have a more important role in attendance. Attendance is better than it was. Their attendance interventions are rocking it with truancy. He noted that they didn’t meet their goal of having just 15% of students chronically missing from school.
Duelley wants to increase home visits. He feels they are helpful and supportive. He also wants to do more attendance recognitions.
Home school, other data
Home school enrollment is at 408, down 24 students. Hope Scholarship enrollment is at 75, an increase of 16.
Home school enrollment changed due to integration with WVEIS flagging students who have moved or returned to public school.
