What is a legal absence/tardy?

A legal absence or tardy includes absence or tardiness due to personal illness, death or illness in the family, court appearance, religious observance, approved college visits, quarantine, approved cooperative work program, attendance at health clinic, driving tests, or military obligation. Absences from school which are considered legal included the previously mentioned examples as well as medical and dental appointments, impassable roads, bad weather, music lessons, emergency situations with administrative approval, an educational trip, and planned evidence of an acceptable educational experience.

What is an illegal absence/tardy or unlawful detention?

An illegal absence or tardy is when the parent or guardian is aware of the reason for the students’ tardiness or absence, and the reason is not one of those listed as legal. For example, this includes visiting, getting a haircut, over sleeping, babysitting, being “needed” at home, and hunting.

Vacations taken by families at times other than those regularly scheduled by the school district are considered as unlawful detention and an illegal absence.

What is truancy/cutting school?

Truancy/cutting school is when the parent or guardian sends the student to school, attempts to get the student to school, and expects the student to be in school, but the student misses all or part of the school day. Any student not in his or her assigned first period or first period class within five minutes after the start of the scheduled school day is considered either absent or tardy.

If a student arrives at school after first period has begun, he/she should report immediately to the front desk to sign in. A written excuse is required explaining why the student is late. The written excuse from the parent or guardian is due when the student returns to school or on the following day.

Occasionally students get together and organize a day or part of a day off from school. Schalmont Central School District does not condone these activities. Students participating in such activities will be subject to truancy regulations as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

What must parents do if their child will be/is absent from school?

Parents are required to contact the school by 8:30 am in the event their child is absent. If a call is not received by this time, the school will call home to notify the parent regarding their child’s absence. Parents may choose to leave a message via voice mail with the attendance desk the evening before the absence if they realize their student will be out the following day. If a call from the student’s parent was received by the attendance desk stating that he or she would be absent, the attendance desk secretary will document the absence as legal.

Parents are required to send in a note on the day the student returns to school after the absence stating the student’s name, date, day(s) of absence and the reason for the absence. A written note is still required even if a parent called the school to report the absence. The attendance desk secretary will check the first period attendance roster using eSchool Data to determine who is absent, document all calls that came in from parents, and make calls to parents of absent students who did not call in.

What must a student do if he or she is absent from school?

Students absent from school must account for that absence by:

• Producing a note from the parent or guardian stating the student’s name, date, day(s) of absence, and the reason for the absence;

• Assuming responsibility for making up work missed with each teacher in a manner consistent with school and department guidelines.

What must a student do if he or she is tardy due to a medical appointment?

Students tardy to school due to a medical appointment must account for that absence by:

• Producing a note from the medical practitioner stating the student’s name, date, and reason for tardiness (e.g., doctor or dentist appointment);

• Assuming responsibility for making up work missed with any teacher in a manner consistent with school and department guidelines.

When a student is absent, what is the policy for make-up work?

Any student who misses a class is expected immediately upon his or her return to make up all work that was missed. Except for those intentional absences whereby the student sought to gain an unfair academic advantage (e.g., the student is absent to allow for more time to study for an exam), make-up opportunities will be provided for all students absent from class.

The student will have the opportunity to make up the classes and work missed in accordance with procedures established by the classroom teacher. Upon completion of the assigned make-up work, the student will be given credit for classroom work as well as classroom participation. If a student feels that this regulation has been misapplied by a teacher, the student has the right to appeal the decision to the department head or school administration, whichever is appropriate.

What if a student is absent for a school sponsored activity (e.g., field trip, athletic event)?

Students who are absent from class due to their participation in a school sponsored activity are to arrange with their teachers to make up any work missed in a timely manner as determined by the student’s teacher.

What if a student is absent for an extended illness?

Students who have an extended illness (10 days or more) may be placed on home-tutoring and will not be counted as absent during the extended illness. A doctor’s statement indicating the need for as well as the dates and length of the home tutoring required must be submitted to the HS Guidance Office by the parent or guardian. The request for home tutoring will be forwarded to the HS principal for approval, who will request that the guidance counselor make the arrangements for home tutoring.

Under the directions of the tutor, the student will complete all missed assignments and continue assigned course work. When the assignments are satisfactorily completed and approved by the teacher, the student will then be marked in attendance on home tutoring for the days missed due to illness.

What is the maximum number of absences?

Any student with more than 36 absences in a full year (or 18 absences in a half year) in a course for any reason, including legal and illegal absences, may not receive credit for the course.

No personal sound equipment or electronic devices of any type should be seen during the school day.  

This includes, but is not limited to all items such as cell phones, i-Pods, MP3 players, radios (of any type or description), cassette tape recorders or CD/players, electronic games, video games (e.g., Nintendo DSi), computer games, playing cards, walkmans, pagers, and beepers. If seen, these items may be confiscated until the end of the day or held until a parent picks them up.

Electronic means for telecommunication by students with other students or any other third party – whether in the school building, on school grounds, or away from the building on any school-related activity – shall be prohibited during school day instruction hours. School day instruction hours are defined for Schalmont Middle School and Schalmont High School as 7:40 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Electronic means of telecommunication shall include, but not be limited to the previously mentioned electronic devices.

After school instruction hours, students may use their cell phones.

The district is not responsible for securing students’ personal technology devices and cannot be held accountable for the loss of or damage to such devices.

Note:  For emergency purposes, students may use office phones to communicate with parents during the school day. Parents may contact the main office of the school to communicate with students if necessary.