VALDOSTA — Valdosta City Schools Board of Education members have set a date to appoint a new District 2 board member to replace Vanessa Flucas.

Superintendent Todd Cason said he has received applications from three serious candidates, and there is no rush to select someone.

Whoever is selected for the position will eventually have to run for the seat in March, Cason said.

“There needs to be a special election on March 19 after the person has been selected and begins to serve,” Cason said.

The board agreed to meet at 12:30 p.m., Sept. 27, to discuss and possibly choose a new District 2 board member.

In light of September being Attendance Awareness Month, the board approved a proclamation to raise awareness of attendance issues in the school system.

Scarlet Brown, city schools assistant superintendent, said about 80,000 days of school were missed last year by students, averaging 10 days per child.

“We do have an issue to address, so we are really working to do that in a number of different manners,” Brown said.

The approved proclamation joins initiatives such as Team Up for Attendance day Sept. 28, using banners and memes to promote perfect attendance and community outreach, Brown said.

It’s not just the students that need to be made aware of chronic absence, but parents as well, Brown said.

“I had a parent just this week say, ‘Until I heard you talk about attendance, I didn’t realize it was a big deal. I didn’t know it was linked to my child’s academics.’ I think a lot of it is awareness,” Brown said.

The next board meeting will be held at the Valdosta City Schools Central Office, 7 p.m., Sept. 25.

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.