School Board Sticks With Absentee Policy, Despite Criticisms

Despite concerns from parents and students alike, the Bridgewater-Raritan school board's policy committee has recommended giving the changed absentee policy one more year before possibly making any changes — mostly because it has made such a difference already.

Two years ago 60 percent of students had more than 16 absences, Superintendent Michael Shilder said.

“That’s a horrendous number,” he said. “But that has dropped dramatically in the years since.

“Our policy is similar to quality schools around the state,” he added. “It’s a situation of managing absences, not just being excused.”

The policy change was approved July 24, and says that anyone absent more than 16 days from a year-long course, 12 days from a physical education course, eight days from a semester course and four days in a single marking period course will be subject to administrative action.

This change was made in response to concerns that some students are racking up too many absences that are categorized as excused.

Schilder said the appeals committee concerning absences is handled differently these days, and there are opportunities for students to be excused based on deaths in the family, legitimate sickness and other reasons.

“Where we are not accommodating is where you have these reasons for being out some days, and others you just choose to be out without a real reason,” he said. “My strong recommendation is that the changes are working, and I would suggest giving it another year and seeing where it goes.”

Schilder said there have been 100 appeals so far this year, and 73 have been granted at this point.

Board member Jacqueline Barlow, chairwoman of the policy committee, said appeals for absences during health class are looked at more closely than others because seniors take the class during the third marking period when most college visits are held.

And because it is a one-marking period course, students are only allowed four absences total.

Barlow said students should be encouraged not to miss college visits, but to plan them appropriately.

“It might be good for counselors to discuss with students how to schedule them,” she said. “And the principal should publicize the policy, with an emphasis on the appeals.”

“The attendance committee will report back after another year of using this policy to see if changes should be made,” she added.

Barlow said there is also the possibility of lowering the number of allowable absences, and just saying that college visits are considered excused. She said it hasn’t been discussed at this time.

In Montgomery, Barlow said, they only allow 10 unexcused absences, and there are more named in the policy as excused, including family illness, religious holidays, college visitations and more—but documentation from the healthcare providers or others is required to be excused.

“Parents can’t just write in a note to excuse,” Barlow said.

Board vice president Jill Gladstone said they have to encourage students to attend college visits no matter what.

“There are certain days we have to encourage,” she said. “I would hate to see students getting stressed out by that, and having to wait until after they go to see if it will be non-chargeable.”

“I would not be happy with waiting a year, I think we should make changes now,” she added.

Board member Arvind Mathur said his main concern is that students think they actually have 16 vacation days in a school year, which is not true.

“They will go out for a death in the family, then days for college visits, and then they expect they also get 16 days of vacation, and I think that’s wrong,” he said.

Mathur said there were discussions on the possibilities of pre-approvals for college visits and other circumstances to be excused absences, but those discussions have not gone far as of yet.

“I think that will help the stress of the students,” he said. “I think we are putting too much pressure on the kids, especially for seniors.”

Schilder said the one positive thing about this change is that students are talking about how many days they are out.

“Before they weren’t talking about it,” he said. “I am not getting a sense it’s causing a lot of stress, but I think there is mature healthy planning.”

Board member Ann Marie Mead said she supports the policy as is.

“I think we should give it more time,” she said. “I was of the understanding there was a problem, and of the understanding that this has fixed it. If there are extenuating circumstances, I believe there is an appeals process to help.”

Do you think the policy just needs another year for people to get used to it?