PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Peoria Public Schools had an attendance problem, where a third of the students were chronically absent according to Cheryl Sanfilip.

Sanfilip and Thom Simpson were a part of the Peoria Public School system for decades. They had their own consulting business, helping schools across Illinois tackle absenteeism.

What changed their lives was when Sharon Desmoulin Kherat became PPS' new superintendent. She asked Sanfilip and Simpson to help PPS reduce student absence rates.

"Dr. Kherat knew that one of our specialties when we retired and opened a business was student attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism," Sanfilip said. "Dr. Simpson and I had a very brief conversation because we knew the answer was going to be yes."

"So, we closed our business and became volunt

See Full Page