FWIW, as I am not verified as a former guidance counselor, here is what I imagine happened at the school on the day Madalina was reported missing:
(Phone from secretary): Madalina’s mom is here to see you.
Counselor: Thanks, send her in. (Has already spoken to student’s teachers, reviewed attendance record, looked at file for any indications of problems at home or in school, reviewed SAP records, contacted elementary counselor and/or last year’s teacher.)
Counselor: Hi Ms. C, is Madalina with you? I hope she’s not still feeling poorly.
Ms. C: Oh, she’s still got the flu, so I left her at home.
Counselor: I’m sorry to hear that! Do you have a doctor’s note? As we discussed, you’re facing a truancy hearing if we can’t justify her absence. Did you look at the packet we left for you?
Ms. C: Actually, I haven’t seen Madalina since before Thanksgiving. I’ve been reporting her absent thinking she would come home.
Counselor: Madalina is eleven years old, correct? And you haven’t seen her since before Thanksgiving (checks attendance records again).
Ms. C: No.
Counselor: I see here that she missed a day prior to Thanksgiving break. When was the last time you saw her?
Ms. C: Well, she was in her room. My husband and O got into a fight. Then, the next day, he left for Illinois. I thought maybe Madalina was with him.
Counselor: Did you call him to find out?
Ms. C: No. We had just had a fight, and I didn’t want to rock the boat. So I just reported her absent and waited for him to come home.
Counselor: And he came home when? And was Madalina with him?
Ms. C: No. He came home the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I asked him where she was and he said he didn’t know.
Counselor: So you haven’t seen her in three weeks? And you don’t know where she is?
Ms. C: No.
Counselor: Well, this is very concerning, Ms. C. Do you know where Madalina might be? Could she have run off to friends or family?
Ms. C: I don’t think so. We don’t have anybody nearby.
Counselor: I’m going to call the school resource officer in. I’m very concerned. Can you get you husband here to talk to us?
Ms. C: I’ll try.
And I think we have records for the rest. All just IME, and speculation, take it for what it’s worth.