BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Birmingham school leaders are pleading 

with students to show up on the first day of school or risk costing

 the district big bucks. Thousands of desks were empty last year 

when the roll was called on the first day of school in Birmingham. 

Woodlawn High School had the most absentees -- 136 on the 

first day. 

         

Birmingham city schools reports a total of 6,000 students did not show 

up on the first day last year, costing them $780,000. 

 

Last year, the district's share of state funds was based on student 

enrollment during the first 40 days -- one reason the district launched 

a campaign urging kids to "Just Show Up" on the first day. And this year, 

schools are trying to register every student before school starts. 

         

"We've had plenty of students to come these days. We're hoping the 

number will continue to grow," Woodlawn High principal Shirley 

Graham said. 

         

The district is also depending on a new computer system and not 

humans to count kids. One reason -- district records indicate only 228, 

or less than half, of North Roebuck Elementary School's student body 

showed up on the first day last year. However, principal Irene O'Neil 

says there were 558 present. The district says it was human error on 

their end but bad math can cost the system big bucks. 

         

Now, under the new campaign, plenty of parents are registering 

their kids early. 

         

"I don't know how to get them in any quicker than we've done," 

O'Neil said. 

         

"Thanks to Dr. Shiver and the board, we will have the best system 

that we have ever seen in Birmingham City Schools," said Jo Hollins, 

head of attendance for Birmingham city schools. 

         

Hollins says other districts have similar problems. In fact, Jefferson 

County public schools reported seeing 4,200 fresh faces between 

the first and 40th day of school last year. 

         

The problem is so widespread that Gov. Bob Riley addresses it in his 

Amendment 1 tax proposal. If it passes, the official student count won't 

start until 20 days after Labor Day. 

         

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not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Birmingham city school system wants to put 

more kids in the classroom when school resumes Aug. 18. 

         

During a news conference Thursday morning the district kicked off its 

"Just Show Up" campaign. The campaign is a move to cut down on the 

number of students absent from class in the early part of the school year. 

         

The first 40 days of class weighs heavily on the amount of funding the 

district receives from the state. The Birmingham school system receives 

$130 per student. Last year, about 6,000 students never showed up on 

the first day of class. 

 

"We estimate as a result of the absenteeism the first 40 days of school 

last year, our system lost between $4 million and $5 million -- money that 

could have been spent on teachers, books supplies and other educational 

needs," Superintendent Wayman Shiver said. 

         

Shiver also addressed teacher concerns over placement this year. 

He said many of the appointments will come from the school board, 

a process that could take until next week to complete. 

         

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