Bibb Schools hopes to slash absenteeism behind county-funded truancy specialist

In the aftermath of its impassioned budget discussions earlier this year, the Bibb County Board of Education rejected several hires, shooting down an English Language Arts coordinator, leadership coach, assistant athletic director and truancy specialist. 

But one of those positions — which were spearheaded by Bibb Schools Superintendent Dan Sims — has been resurrected with county funding. Commissioners approved $345,000 in school zone speeding camera funds to hire a truancy officer for the Bibb County School District for three years in a July 16 meeting.

Now Sims and the district must find someone to fill the position and firm up what their duties will be.

The district opened up its search as soon as the funds were approved, Sims said, looking for someone who will focus on community outreach and take up a “boots on the ground approach.”

Students are deemed chronically absent when they miss 10% or more of the school year. In Bibb County, 28.5% of students were chronically absent in 2025, compared to only 19.5% of students in the entire state who were chronically absent, according to the Georgia Department of Education’s attendance dashboard.

The state’s absenteeism levels more than doubled during the pandemic, from 8% in 2020 to about 20% in 2021. Absenteeism in Bibb County spiked up to 53.2% from 10.5%. 

Jamie Cassady, district assistant superintendent of student affairs, leads the district’s efforts to increase attendance. He said he’s spoken “broadly” with Sims about what the new position would entail, but hasn’t worked on any specifics yet.

“When we say truancy officer, I’m not sure that would actually be an officer,” Cassady said. “Social workers do that already, they’ll go out and visit homes. This (job) would be an extra layer on top.” 

The district’s attendance intervention begins at the “ground level and works out,” he said. 

After three days of missed school, guidance counselors get involved. After seven days of missed school, the school’s social workers intervene.

After ten days, the case is elevated to the district’s absenteeism task force, which is made up of social workers, psychologists, River Edge Behavioral Health and the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family and Children Services.

Cassady noted that roughly 62% of all chronically absent students have been chronically absent for multiple years.

Although it’s a “lofty goal,” Cassady said he thinks the district can halve the percentage of chronically absent students by the end of this coming school year.

“We’re doing it right, I can definitely see us getting where we were pre-pandemic,” he added. “For us to have the impact we need, it’s going to take more than individuals within the school district. It’s gonna take community members … and foremost start with the parents.”

The efforts to address absenteeism come amid increased scrutiny on the issue from the state, with two study committees being formed by the General Assembly and a new bill co-sponsored by state Sen. John F. Kennedy, R—Macon.

The new bill went into effect in July, and mandates that local school systems form attendance teams or policies to intervene with chronically absent students. Every school with a chronic absenteeism rate of 15% or more is required to assemble an attendance team.

The district already has its “breakthrough teams,” or a group of district employees who mentor and connect daily with one or two students identified as chronically absent.

The school board voted 4-4 against adding the truancy specialist back in May, with dissenting board members noting concerns about tacking on additional spending in the face of a $20.8 million deficit.

With the county paying for the position, board member Daryl Morton said he’s glad to see the district get a truancy officer.

“It’s gonna be important to find the best person we can to make the most difference,” Morton said. “I don’t think there’s any disagreement that there’s too many kids missing school.”

Board member Henry Ficklin, who voted against adding additional positions in the budget, has also previously raised concerns about the need for a truancy officer.

“Attendance is so bad in the school system,” he said. “I think this is a good thing that the Mayor is doing.”