On the morning of a student’s absence, parents/guardians are asked to notify the HS Nurse’s Office a 933-6708, or the Elem. Office at 933-6045 by 8:30 AM. All absences from school must be accounted for. On the day following an absence, a note from home stating the reason, date(s) absent, and signed by a parent/guardian needs to be turned in. K-6 students should turn their excuses in to their classroom teacher and 7-12 students need to bring their excuses to the Office. When evidence of habitual absence is apparent, excuses for illness may require validation through a doctor’s certificate. Failure to provide a written excuse within three days following return to school will result in a warning. Repeated failures to turn in excuses will lead to detention(s), a parent conference and finally ISS.

Elementary and secondary students are expected to be in their first period class before 7:55 AM. Tardy students are to go to the Main Office to sign in. The tardy student will receive a blue slip indicating their time of arrival to class. Tardiness to school must also be accounted for with a written excuse, signed by a parent or guardian explaining the reason for the tardy. Consequences for student tardiness begin with a warning. Repeated tardiness to school that is not a legally excused tardy will result in lunch detention, detention, a parent conference and ISS.

Teachers are expected to handle tardiness to class to their satisfaction. Should the problem continue, or if the student ignores the teacher’s request, the administration will be notified and the resulting consequence will begin with lunch detention. Repeated offenses will lead to additional detention(s), a parent conference and ISS.

A class cut is an unauthorized absence from class when a student is not absent from school. Cuts include Study Halls and assemblies. A student will receive a zero for all work missed, including tests. A cut from class will result in detention(s). Repeated cuts will result in parent notification, internal suspension, and if the offenses are excessive, a Superintendent’s hearing and PINS (Person in Need of Supervision) referral.

Leaving school grounds without permission is considered truancy. This includes leaving school property any time during the school day following arrival to school, lunch periods, and prior to bus departure. Violators will receive internal suspension(s). Repeated infractions will lead to a Superintendent’s hearing and PINS referral.

Students are expected to remain in school unless they are excused by a school official upon the written request of parents or guardians. Elementary students who are to be excused during the school day are to turn their written excuse in to their homeroom teacher at morning attendance time. High School students who are to be excused during the day should turn their excuse in at the Nurse’s office before first period. Excuses will then be included on the attendance list. All students being excused must sign out in the Main Office, stating exactly where they are going. Upon returning to school, students are to sign in and receive a pass to class. If a student does not have an excuse, the parent or legal guardian must come into the Main Office and sign the student out. A student who becomes ill during the school day should report to the Nurse’s office prior to any arrangements being made for excusal. Students cannot sign themselves out sick, regardless of age, without notification to the Main Office from the Nurse’s Office that parental/ guardian permission was obtained.

Excused absences are defined as: absences due to personal illness, illness or death in the family, impassable roads or weather, religious observances, Quarantine, required court appearances, attendance at health clinics, approved college visits, approved cooperative work programs, military obligations, medical appointments, approved school functions, road test (1day), opening day of hunting season (1day), or such other reason as may be approved by the Commissioner of Education.

for classroom participation, for the marking period. In grades 7-12, a student may not receive credit for the course with more than 36 absences in a full-year course, 18 absences in a half-year course, 5 absences in a quarter year course, and 3 absences in a summer school course. However, it is District policy that students with properly excused absences, tardiness, and early departures for which the student has performed any assigned make-up work, assignments and/or tests shall not be counted as an absence for the purpose of determining the eligibility for course credit. All absences (excused and unexcused) count in the total sessions missed. Students and parents will be notified verbally and/or by mail when unexcused class absences in a full year course reach 8, 18, 27, and 36 days. For half-year courses, letters will be sent following 4, 9, 13, and 18. Students not receiving credit for attendance reasons will be removed from the class. If the student causes interruption in the learning process, he/she will be placed in a study hall. Students who have lost credit for excessive absences will not be permitted to take the Regents exam nor will he/she be allowed to attend summer school. If the student and Parent(s)/Guardian(s) believe there are extenuating circumstances which warrant special consideration, written appeal may be filed requesting a building level review. The appeal must be filed within five days of the student’s removal from class.