KOTA Territory NewsWith Absences Up, School Offers Attendance Incentives

With Absences Up, School Offers Attendance Incentives

Shad Olson

With some schools struggling with flu–related absences this year, one principal says the number of kids missing school without reason is going up too, and he's using incentives to keep kids in class.

At Horace Mann Elementary School in Rapid City, Principal Danny Janklow says it's the worst year in several for truancy cases. To combat the trend, the school's 'Buzzin' Bucks' program awards kids fake money for perfect attendance and good behavior that they can use to buy items from the school store.  With the ability to buy everything from trinkets to teddy bears to toy airplanes that really fly, Janklow says students learn that good habits lead to big rewards.

And it's not just toys that are up for grabs.  For 100 'Buzzin'Bucks,' they can get lunch with their favorite teacher.

" It's an amazing thing for staff to have a child who will save up 100 Buzzin' Bucks and then come to a staff member and say I would like to buy lunch with you...."

Janklow says kids are also given coupons for free meals at area restaurants for good attendance. 

Students can also earn their way into a field trip to the movies, just for coming to school.