Wednesday, Oct. 2, is count day for the entire state of Michigan, meaning CHS will be following a Friday schedule. Count day determines the funding distribution to each school building in the state. Funding is based on attendance within a 10-day window or 30 days, including excused absences. 

To be counted, each student must be marked present in all their classes. Every student represents a little over $9,600 for their school if they’re counted correctly. The funding determined by count day allows public schools to pay all of their expenses, including supplies and salaries. This is why it’s so important to come to school tomorrow.

“It’s really, really important, because all of the money that we get assigned to our building, that we use to pay salaries, pay for supplies, those kinds of things, is based on students being in the building and being counted,” Lisa Durham, a CHS office professional, said.

There are two count days each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The fall count day has more of an effect on the budgeting compared to the spring count day but both are important.

If attending school tomorrow is not an option, whether for a religious holiday or stuck home sick, YOU CAN STILL BE COUNTED! If your absence tomorrow hasn’t been excused by a parent or guardian, you can be counted if you’re marked present within the 10-day grace period following count day. If you are excused, you can be counted if you’re marked present within the 30-day grace period following count day.

Teachers are responsible for taking accurate attendance every day, but during count day and the grace period following, accurate attendance is especially important. If you are absent tomorrow, check in with your teachers to ensure that they count you on time!

“If count day is what we need to do to get money from the state, then you better believe I’m going to do it and do it well so that we get the money that we deserve,” said Becky Brent, a CHS health teacher. “It’s hard to work with so little.”