School board attacking truancy, absenteeism

An internal team at the Natchitoches School Board Central Office is attacking truancy and absenteeism. From left are Dr. Darell Hampton, Jazmine Dilworth, Jennifer Ingram, Felicia Pinkney, Dr. Grant Eloi, Rayna Ferrell, Anita Dubois and Joey Miller.
An internal team at the Natchitoches School Board Central Office is attacking truancy and absenteeism. From left are Dr. Darell Hampton, Jazmine Dilworth, Jennifer Ingram, Felicia Pinkney, Dr. Grant Eloi, Rayna Ferrell, Anita Dubois and Joey Miller.

“As of today, school is not optional” said NPSB Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi in a press conference Thursday, Eloi was talking about the Natchitoches Parish Truancy Policy for the 2024-2025 school year.

The policy, Eloi said, is the result a significant attendance challenge the district is facing. In recent years, the average daily attendance for students has been 90 percent. Eloi said that seems f…