One hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money – especially during a recession and in a property tax-poor region of this state.

Yet, Beeville school trustees’ decision to spend $100,000 on a program created to reduce truancy may result in a much greater return on this initial investment.

Last year the Beeville ISD lost almost $800,000 in state funding because students cut classes at the high school and junior high.

The Attendance Improvement Management program, adopted by the school board last week, will keep BISD from losing that state funding in the future by requiring chronically truant students to carry a GPS locator device with them at all times so that their whereabouts may be tracked.

The AIM program also calls for counselors to contact students every day of the week to check on their attendance and problems they’re having at school and home.

A judge would order chronically truant students to take part in the program or face stiff fines.

If the BISD reduces the number of truancy cases by half, that could cut the loss in average daily attendance funds from the state by almost $400,000, or about four times the original sizable expenditure.

The Bee County Chamber of Commerce’s business education committee and Chamber President Pam Priour Stuart, who recently resigned, should be commended for helping research and support this program.

“This program is life-changing,” Stuart assured the board at its meeting last week.

She said she has contacted school districts and judges who are using the program in their communities. They’re ecstatic over the results, she said.

AIM was created by a clinical psychologist and the director of a truancy center in Dallas. AIM counselors are trained to interact and inspire students to attend class. They contact students each evening and see how their school day went and discuss their course progress and their grades.

Longtime Trustee Tom Beasley, who pointed out that truancy is “one of the most difficult issues this board has faced,” said the $100,000 price tag for the program is well worth it if it can get kids in class and help them become successful in their education.

After hearing about the Chamber’s presentation, we agree with the trustees who were sold on this program, and hope that this is a solid investment that will result in savings for the BISD and, more importantly, will encourage many at-risk children to stay in school, graduate and become productive citizens.