Bigfork School Board grapples with attendance policy update

An update to the student attendance policy continues to be a point of discussion for the Bigfork School Board.

The board reviewed the proposed changes at its June 18 meeting, which includes extensive edits to sections on excused absences and corrective actions for chronic absentees.

"We're trying to come up with something we can be more consistent with," said Tom Stack, superintendent of Bigfork Schools.

Under the guidelines, school administrators can approve excused absences for illness, bereavement, family emergencies, medical appointments with a doctor's note and participation in school activities.

At the meeting, Trustee Julie Kreiman lobbied for an additional clause for pre-excused absences that would allow for students to pursue nontraditional activities. She offered examples such as students in community theater or shooting sports.

"Families may deem something more of a priority for them," she said. "Having that language so that families know we still want their students in Bigfork, even if they're pursing other passions than just reading, writing and arithmetic. I would love to see that added."

Board Chair Paul Sandry countered Kreiman's suggestion, saying the current attendance policy isn't tough enough.

"We're trying to get kids to show up to school," Sandry said. "We've got a bunch of kids with 20 days absence."

He said he would support the updated policy as presented, without amendments that offer more leeway for excused absences.

Under the updated attendance proposal, students with an excused absence will have one day after their return to school to complete assignments given during their absence. Work assigned before their absence is due when they return or on the original due date.

The proposed update strikes a sentence that says students are eligible to receive credit as earned for schoolwork missed during the absence period.

The updated policy also states that parents or guardians must inform the school of an absence within 24 hours. The current rules allow for 48 hours' notice.

The updated policy also rewrites sections on the consequences for absences. High school students that miss more than seven days in a semester will have a letter sent to their parents. A second letter is sent after the 10th absence. Chronic absentees in high school will be reported to legal authorities as prescribed by law, the proposed update states. 

For high school and middle school students, Child Protective Services can be contacted if educational neglect is suspected due to chronic absentees.

Current guidelines have a high school student who misses more than 10 days be referred to an attendance review committee, which determines corrective actions. The review committee is not referenced in the updated policy.

In both high school and middle school, 20% of a student's grades will be based on attendance and participation, according to the policy update. Each excused or unexcused absence after 10 days per semester will result in a 2% deduction in the student's attendance and participation grade.

In middle school, students who miss more than 10 days in a semester are not eligible for field trips and may be put on academic probation. Students who miss more than 15 days in a semester may receive a pass or fail grade instead of a letter grade. A pass equates to a 2.0 GPA.

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will have a letter sent to parents after the fifth absence in a trimester, and second letter after the seventh absence, which may request a meeting with the parent.

The board did not take any actions on the proposed attendance policy updates. The document is posted the school district's website.