The final intercession period for the Vicksburg Warren School District got under way Monday and for the third straight time, student attendance decreased — just one-third of those eligible in grades 3 through 6 attended.

The schools were prepared, sending out buses and bringing in teachers for extra help.

“It’s slow,” confirmed Superintendent Dr. James Price, “but we’re still holding intercession. We’re not turning anybody away. For some it could make the difference between passing and failing.”

Classes were held again this morning, but those initially planned for Wednesday were changed to a regular school day for all students to make up the Feb. 12 academic day canceled by snow.

School sources said 670 students in grades 3 through 6 were invited to attend remedial sessions before the next nine-week grading period began. The district prepared for the 339 whose parents said they’d be there, but only 218 came to school, 153 from the south half of the district and 65 from the north.

Forty-four junior high students attended Monday’s classes, said Assistant Superintendent Debra Hullum — 26 to Vicksburg Junior High School and 18 to Warren Central Junior. At the high school level, 65 attended at Vicksburg High School and 31 at Warren Central, for a total of 96.

The district brought in 46 teachers, Hullum said, resulting in one teacher available for every eight students.

Students are invited based on their need for more instruction in order to pass weekly benchmark tests, which prepare students for state-required tests at the end of the school year.

Lower grade students are offered math and reading lessons, with math and English targeted at the junior highs. Review and strategies for the state-mandated subject-area tests are taught at the high school intercessions.

“We try to accommodate what they have a need for,” Price said.

The schools’ board of trustees unanimously approved the concept of intercession in 2007. Designed to give struggling students a chance to catch up more quickly before new material is introduced, the two- to four-day sessions were initially well-attended. But participation by eligible students declined from a high of 676 in January 2009, and at its Feb. 18 board meeting, trustees approved a calendar for 2010-2011 that does not include intercession.

Given economic conditions, Price said at the meeting, he “could not in good conscience” recommend keeping intercession on the calendar, since without student participation and the support of parents and teachers, intercession is “not cost-effective.”

Weekly benchmark tests and monitoring of student, teacher and school performance will remain in place, Price told trustees, and summer school will also be offered.

Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com