Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell speaking with Chamber of Commerce members on Oct. 10, 2023.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
After a question-and-answer session illuminating the nexus of business and government, Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell asked business representatives at a Chamber of Commerce meeting Tuesday for help addressing chronic student absenteeism in the community.
“I believe with all of my heart that students cannot learn if they are not going to school,” said Bagwell. “And so, I want to talk about chronic absenteeism. I am shocked to learn what the absenteeism is in the Carson City School District. It is so disheartening to me … because that’s your next generation. That’s the people who are going to be the next mayors and the next business owners.”
As reported by the Appeal, about 25 percent of students in the Carson City School District were considered chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year. Though some schools improved their absenteeism rates since the COVID-19 pandemic, about 1,800 out of 7,200 students were chronically absent, meaning students were missing 10 percent or more of the school year.
Bagwell said she was bothered to see chronic absenteeism affecting elementary schools.
“I have been trying to put together something in my mind with Megan Newman. Megan is the engagement and attendance specialist for the school district,” Bagwell said. “I did a little sample thing with her this last month. I wanted to encourage students that had missed a lot of school to go to school.”
Bagwell said a donor provided her gift certificates for ice cream, and she distributed them to a small number of elementary school students who didn’t miss a day of school for a month. The measure worked to improve attendance, Bagwell said.
“She (Newman) came back and saw me the day before yesterday and said, ‘Oh my gosh, mayor. Who would think that a little certificate from the mayor and an ice cream cone would get a 7-year-old to think that they needed to go to school?’” Bagwell said.
Now the mayor is asking the business community to pitch in for a larger campaign. She emphasized the city government is different than the school district and that she doesn’t want to overstep her role as mayor.
“I ask you as businesses whether you think that’s of value and that you can help me in any design, would like to be on a team, would like to work with Megan and with me to say, ‘We in Carson City want to encourage our kids to go to school,’” Bagwell said. “I’m not making any comments about curriculum at all. That’s not what it is to me. I need them to go to school. I don’t care whether it’s a private school or public school … Go to school!”
Several members of the audience promised financial support and brainstormed ways to motivate students. Bagwell told the Appeal businesses interested in the campaign can email her at LBagwell@carson.org.
The call to action came after discussion of the roles of business and government in the community. Carson City Planning Commission Chair Teri Preston asked Bagwell how the city can help businesses starting out navigate city code and other challenges.
“The one thing I will tell you about the city, we want to get to ‘yes,’” Bagwell said.
She said if a business is not following code, the city first tries “courtesy communication.” If notices are ignored, enforcement will follow, Bagwell said. She pointed to the Board of Supervisors’ recent suspension of Remedy’s business license for not having a liquor manager at the East William Street bar.
“I want to tell you that 95 percent of people comply,” she stressed.
Also attending Tuesday’s meeting was Cindy Fencl, director of Adams Hub for Innovation in downtown Carson. Bagwell pointed to Fencl and the center as a great resource for businesses. Fencl later told the Appeal business owners needing assistance can call the center at 775-222-0001 or visit https://www.adamshub.org/.
On the issue of chronic absenteeism, Bagwell said it’s going to take community action.
“You look at all that we can do as a community to support one another,” she said.