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Show School attendance policy comes under scrutiny Controversy has emerged over many school districts' attendance policies being linked to grades issued to students. About three weeks ago a lawsuit was threatened against the Uintah School District over the attendance atten-dance policy at Uintah High School. That matter was resolved and there will be no lawsuit, but the controversy controver-sy continues. The problem is that money given to school districts by the state is based on attendance. The higher the attendance, atten-dance, the more money the school gets. Therefore, it is only logical school administration will do what they can to get students to attend school. At Uintah High School, the attendance atten-dance policy allows a student to miss five days per term, regardless of the reason, as long as parents know the student is not in school and approve of his not being there. The problem arises on the sixth day. At that point a student stu-dent must make up the absence, or will not be given a grade in that particular class. To make up the absence, a student stu-dent must spend one hour in class for every hour missed. The administration administra-tion and faculty alike admit this is usually simply punishment, since seldom is the hour spent in an educationally educa-tionally motivating way. Uintah High School Principal Bill Caldwell admits the system has its shortcomings, but he says this is by far the best system at Uintah High School since he has been there. He likes it for basically three reasons: he is not expected ex-pected to question why a student is absent, ab-sent, which places some responsibility responsibili-ty on the student to be in class; it allows students to make up the time without penalty in situations where more than five absences occur, and it has increased attendance to a level far above any other system implemented. im-plemented. Another point to the system is that Assistant Principal Jan Nelson has complete control over the final outcome, and in extremely unusual situations the penalty can even be waived. Mr. Caldwell emphasizes, em-phasizes, however, this option is only open in the most extreme instances. Criticism of the system is that a student stu-dent who gets an "A" on every assignment assign-ment and every test could conceivably fail the class. Opponents argue that if a student can do the work, whose business is it that the student even attend at-tend class? Mr. Caldwell admits the argument holds a certain amount of weight, but a case like that is pratically nonexistent. nonexis-tent. Students who usually gel in trouble trou-ble over the system usually know they are going to be in trouble long before it ever happens. Doug Bates, an attorney with the Utah Legal Office, has submitted his opinion on the matter that linking attendance at-tendance to grades is probably unconstitutional. un-constitutional. A case in Utah County this year held in the student's favor.and has perhaps set a precedent. The Uintah School District, along with others in the state, has asked the Utah Attorney General for an official opinion. In an unofficial statement, the Attorney General has also said he believes attendance policies which are linked to grades are probably unconstitutional. un-constitutional. He is now studying the situation, and an official opinion will be forthcoming this summer. At the time the lawsuit was threatened threaten-ed in Vernal, the Uintah School District planned to change the attendance atten-dance policy. At the suggestion of Mr. Caldwell the District agreed to wait for the opinion from the attorney general. Caldwell requested that am change should be made after of the school year, because it Joticei: responsibility to get students j, .' ;edstoC and he believes too many motivated enough themselves tend without a prod of somesor IAMe has been the best prod yet (0it Bates, with the State Legal, reviewed the Uintah High Scb- wnt C' tendance policy, and said he!' 'ly1"8 it has more chance of rnalj. through the courts than most7- lhi' reasons. The make up feature' students latitude with the pofc 'len "U that the policy can be overrij, 'alLab, ' unusual extenuating circuit This year's Utah State Legist dealt with some of the problem riitro' ing schools, but did not changed,. wSr schools receive money. Caldwe' Vt' it would probably be better i school districts on the nurak,' Tvbe students enrolled, rather than; "0ur. tendance The reason paWt "tisir funds has been on an attendance . is to encourage districts to do ' they can to get and keep stude-' n school. Say?" Caldwell said the theory hast.. "ff I because even if the way disnfc paid is changed, he would still i'. do what he can to keep school;, dance as high as possible, t because there is an inherent vah students to be in school Should the opinion of the Atfr be General say he believes ther tvi dance policy being linked to graj, J unconstitutional, the Uintah Sc bu District will abide by the opiniK 450 change the policy. Caldwell saii; j decision would come from the fr- uni and then the high school will wok xui a new attendance policy. That op; an( will probably come sometime; 0p summer. ins |