At its Aug. 13 meeting the Natchitoches Parish School Board approved the truancy policy between the Natchitoches Parish School District and the District Attorney’s Office that will put teeth to the School District’s war on truancy and chronic absenteeism, announced at a press conference on Aug. 1. 

NPSB Superintendent Dr. Eloi expressed how Natchitoches Parish Schools are facing a significant attendance challenge. As of press conference, the Natchitoches Parish School District had an average daily attendance of 90 percent, which seems fine until you realize that means that around 500 students a day are not in school.