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– Contributed photo
West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational School District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press.
SHELBY — Attendance is on the increase at Shelby Public Schools thanks to the efforts of the district’s school resource officer Tim Simon, who is a deputy for the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
As a reward for their improved attendance, Deputy Simon served pizza to the elementary students Thursday, March 5.
-Contributed photo
“This pizza party is a reward for the students responding to his attendance challenge,” states a press release from the sheriff’s office. “Deputy Simon attended some absenteeism training sessions and learned strategies to improve attendance. Trying to decrease truancy in a positive way, Deputy Simon asked the question, ‘What can we do to get butts in seats?’”
Simon was working on a truancy report when he came up with the idea.
“Incentives drive kids, much like what he had seen in the high school with Ride with Pride,” he said.
Deputy Simon presented his idea to elementary and middle school principals, Jordan Chacon and Geoff Kies, and they all worked together to launch the attendance initiative. In a short amount of time, they are already seeing results. Since January, the elementary school’s attendance has increased by 9 percent.
The Shelby-Benona Fire Department partnered with the sheriff’s office, and served New Era’s Country Dairy ice cream to the students. Little Caesars provided a discount for the 20 pizzas the SRO bought. Sheriff’s office staff chipped in to help offset the costs. “Once the staff at the sheriff’s office learned that Deputy Simon was funding this out of his own pocket, many pitched in to raise some funds to help him out.”
A similar pizza party to celebrate increased attendance is planned at the middle school next month.
– Contributed photo
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