Mineola schools are turning to a new program to help improve school attendance.

The $44,000 trial program will be paid for with federal COVID relief dollars.

Superintendent Cody Mize said a half-percent increase in attendance would generate about $90,000 in additional state funds, more than enough to pay for the program.

“These are tough times,” he said of attendance challenges, and districts across the state are seeing lower rates.

In addition to increasing state aid, students who show up for school “learn something,” he said, and do better on state tests which also benefits the district.

The School Innovations and Achievements attendance program helps to create a positive culture around school attendance, Mize said.

In addition to supporting the contact with families whose children are not in school, the program also encourages those students who are coming to school with positive messages.

The monthly attendance report showed the district’s attendance has suffered the past two months, with 94.35% in February and 91.77% in March, though that figure had risen to 98% for one campus on Thursday.

Principals reported a variety of illnesses such as flu and strep throat have contributed to excessive absences.

Other factors that have contributed to lower absence rates than even during the pandemic last year were the ability to count those utilizing remote learning and lower illness rates due to students wearing masks.

The district plans a one to two year trial with the program.