School board seeks input on new attendance policy

By Rose Hooper

But assistant superintendent Nancy Sherrill maintained the policy was developed because the current one has "little clear consequence for non-attendance."

The policy states that when a student has exceeded the absences allowed for a grading period, the highest grade the student can receive for the grading period is a 69, unless their earned score in the class is below a 69.

"I can see it for high school, but in elementary school it is often the parent's fault when the child doesn't make it to school," Trine said.

According to the policy, students at Blue Ridge and all elementary schools with four grading periods per year may miss three days per grading period. Smoky Mountain High students and those at the HUB with six grading periods per year can miss two days per grading period.

To be considered in attendance for a day, an elementary student must be present for a minimum of 3.5 hours. In high school, a student must attend two-thirds of the period.

That part represents a big change, noted member Ali Laird-Large, who said, "Now we have parents who bring their elementary age children in right before 11:30 in the morning and have them counted present. Then they can turn right around and take them out of school five minutes later. If we approve this policy, they won't be able to do that anymore."

Superintendent Mack McCary said the reason for stricter enforcement is because "our district really slipped in attendance."

Attendance in school and participation in class are an integral part of academic achievement and the teaching-learning process, McCary said. "Regular attendance develops patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life," said McCary, who reported on a poll he took that afternoon at Rotary Club meeting.

"The Rotarians told me that stressing attendance was important and helped create dependability and a good work ethic," he said of that poll. "We have studied those school systems that are doing well - as far as attendance - and invariably they have incorporated consequences for non-attendance.

"If we provide clear, significant consequences, increase incentives, and provide flexibility only for extreme circumstances, we will reduce extreme absenteeism," he said.

Excused absences would include personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school, isolation ordered by the State Board of Health, death in the immediate family, medical or dental appointment or such appointment that has been approved in advance by the principal, participation under subpoena as a witness in a court proceeding, observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or student's parent(s) with prior approval by the principal, and participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel, with prior approval by the principal.

Also in the new policy three tardies will count as one absence. Any student who accumulates more than 10 tardies per year will not be eligible for perfect attendance that school year.

Parents of students whose grade will be lowered because of excessive absenteeism do have the right to appeal.

The board tabled any action on the attendance policy until its July 29 meeting.

Meanwhile, the board is seeking input on the policy, Sherrill said.

Back to Archive: 06/27/02.