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Show School program works Absence policy meets success By SHARON PRAGLE Record Reporter CEDAR CITY The new discipline policy initiated in the Iron County School system last year has met with success, according to school officials. However, if the program has a problem, it usually lies with the parents' lack of knowledge in the procedure. The 1981-82 school year brought some . tough changes for the secondary school student, those in the middle and high schools; but left the attendance policy unchanged at the elementary level. The prior policy for all absent students required a note or phone call from home, still sufficient for elementary children. However, some secondary students were being assisted by friends rather than parents, according ac-cording to Kent Hulet, director of curriculum. Too much time was being spent following the source of the excuses, ex-cuses, resulting in the schools many time informing parents of their child's truancy. "The legal responsibility (of having the student in school) lies with the parents," said Hulet "but we are trying to put the responsibility with the student now." Steve Baker, Middle School assistant principal, described the new policy as "working much, much better" and said ten or less students were referred to juvenile courts last year. The new policy calls for the teacher to counsel with the student on the first unexcused absence, informing him of the attendance policy and possible consequences if further unexcused absences occur. With the second unexcused absence, the teacher notifies the parent and explains the procedure. The third unexcused absence requires notification of the parent and principal or counselor. The fourth unexcused absence results in a conference between the student, parents, teacher and administrator In that conference, a contract to solve the problem is agreed upon. The fifth unexcused absence is proof of a broken contract by the student and will result in another conference where a decision is made to refer the student to family services or the juvenile court. "Our policy leaves the decision up to the principal of each school to decide what is excused and what is unexcused," unex-cused," Hulet said. Principals also take into account the individual circumstances. cir-cumstances. "We have had tremendous cooperation between (Juvenile) Judge (Joseph) Jackson and the schools," Hulet stated and added that the work program is the most common punishment. punish-ment. This program requires the student to do janitorial work for the school system. Judge Jackson may also fine the parents or even has put students in juvenile detention lor 24 hours in a "cooling-off period." Getting students back into classes after an absence takes a different procedure in the two secondary schools. According to Steve Baker, the Middle School requires a phone call or note from home which is turned in at the main office for an admittance slip. At the high school level, the student fills out his own card with each teacher. |