Chronic absenteeism among students and staff in Maine School Administrative District 44 is still an ongoing challenge, but the numbers are improving, Superintendent Mark Kenney said during Monday’s board of directors meeting.

The rate of chronically absent students as of Dec. 3 is at 17.27%, Kenney said, slightly better than last year’s end-of-year figure of 22.80%.

“We are seeing an improvement,” he said.

Chronic absenteeism includes excused and unexcused absences and are based on 10% of a student’s attendance. On the 63rd day of school, Dec. 3, anyone with six or more days absent is considered “chronic.”

The rate of chronic absenteeism at the end of last year districtwide was 23% chronic.

“You’re talking about over 18 days (being absent); that’s a lot. For some it is even more (days). It’s hard to make those gaps up … It’s a lot of missed learning,” Kenney said.

Currently, 17 district teachers qualify as chronically absent, too. Four chronically absent education technicians are included in the numbers, as are three teachers who had long-term medical leaves.

Kenney noted that because some of the school populations are small, “it doesn’t take a lot to sway percentages one way or another.”

“The administrative team set a goal this year to reduce our numbers by 20% in five years. Breaking it down that is 4% each year,” said Kenney, who added that they will look at the numbers again in March and at the end of the school year.

“We are slightly below average than the state, in a good way,” he said. “It’s (still) not a comfortable level that we’re at. There is definitely room for improvement.”