The Hood River County School District is looking to increase attendance rates.  Last year, 65 percent of district students attend school at least 90 percent of the time, and in October and November of this year that was up to 76 percent.  Interim Superintendent Bill Newton says they are putting in plenty of work to increase that rate to 90 percent, which is where the district was before the pandemic.  He adds much of this is about breaking habits.  Newton says the district sees better attendance at the elementary level than at the secondary level.  He adds the district’s schools are emphasizing building relationships with families to encourage consistent school attendance.