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Show Letters to the Editor Defends Policy Kditor, News: This letter has been requested that you might have a means of comparison as you read the letter of formal complaint from some 20 parents in the Panguitch area with regards to the current practices within Garfield School District applying to the Attendance an-dgudit Granting Policy. At the time the Garfield School District Attendance and Credit Granting Policy was established, some of the people whose names appear on this letter were in attendance at the School Board Meeting and opposed the policy; which they had the right to do. I would like to remind parents that it is the responsibility of parents as given to you by the State Lcgilsature to see that children are in school during each day that school is in session. Since it is unreasonable for parents to check every class every day to make sure of their child's attendance, it then becomes the responsibility of the School District to establish a policy that will insure attendance and notification of parents when children are not in attendance. Since notification has been a large part of the problem, Garfield staff is now in the proces of establishing a parent notification policy that will insure you greater frequency of notification when your children are not in compliance with the School District Policy for Attendance. It is vitally important that all children who are members of a class attend that class and are present at the beginning of the class in order for the teacher to have a full class period to present his information. We are continually stressing the importance of accountability of teachers in the classroom and holding them accountable for concepts to be taught. In order to be fair to all students we must not have frequent interruptions to that class period. As you are well aware, schools are staffed on the basis of attendance and membership. We are given $795.00 per pupil from the state based on our attendance and membership. For every 180 days of attendance we receive $795.00. In order to maintain the staff we must be able to guarantee an average attendance in Garfield School District of percent attendance or better. As I have met with the authors of this letter in the past, I have indicated if we can mutually find a procedure that will insure attendance at class and at school by a means other than tying attendance to credit, I would be most willing to entertain such a change in the policy. I would like to re-state that for those parents and for those children who have complied with the state law to be in at tendance at school on time on all days except when they are sick or have some other ex cusable absence, there is no problem. We truly feel that public schools were created to serve children 1 and parents, but to serve : them all on an equal basis. In order to do that, there must be laws and there must be regulations at which time many of us find ourselves not in compliance with. If we will try to see ourselves as part of the whole organization and not Independent of, we will be much more successful and'mueh greater contributors to society. I am continuing research and looking for alternatives to Improve the Attendance and Credit Granting Policy. If there are suggestions that will b& as effective or more effective than the policy we currently have, we are most eager to have you share your feelings and solutions to this problem with us. In the meantime, the solution is quite simple. Be to class on time and attend school regularly and have an excused absence from the parent when the child is not able to attend. Henry E.Jolley Superintendent, Garfield School District |