New policy seeks to address causes, not just symptoms, of tardiness

Tik, tik, tik, BOOM! There goes the bell--and the last straw of West administration. An epidemic of chronic absenteeism and tardiness has saturated the school, and a new police vaccine hopes to chase it down. In the past, every time an unexcused absence would happen, an automatic detention would be given to the offending party. After a seventh tardy, these students would be put on a watch list. In this system, consequences were automatic, and if there were any underlying issues causing the unexcused absences or tardies, they would likely not be addressed. This lack of resolution and rehabilitation spurred the change in approach.

Assistant Principal Aaron Herm had the data to inform the evolution. 

“We have 272 students who have 10 or more absences, which is 16% of our kids,” he said.

The old way of combating chronic unexcused absences and chronic tardiness did not create real consequences for the problem or possible resolution of underlying factors. 

“The new system is really about tackling unexcused absences in particular,” Herm said. “In the old system, if you skipped a class, you’d get an automatic 20-minute detention. The issue with that is that sometimes those detentions wouldn’t always get served in a timely manner.”

Senior Cody Ulrich sees how the new system may foster effective consequences.

“With the new system now, there are legal consequences, so they may actually go to school,” he said. “It makes skipping a lot harder.” 

Herm saw a disparity in responsibility undergirding the absence crisis. 

“There was this disconnect between skipping class and actually seeing a consequence,” he said. “Because we have such a big school, we weren’t consistently holding students accountable for those detentions and if there’s no consistency, there’s no accountability.”

The new system includes accountability through in-person meetings and conferences with truant students. A contract is proposed to confirm the root of the issues with late issues. 

“We have a form that we fill out,” Herm said. “What we say is ‘what are the behaviors that you need to change, and what are ways that the school can support you?’”

In terms of meetings, there are certain guidelines set up to gauge if a student needs to be talked to, according to Herm.

“If someone has five or more unexcused absences,” he said. “They end up on a list of where we need to talk to them.”

Herm hopes the added consequences in this system should also help in bettering the habits of the students.

“In that process, there’s a warning letter built in and a conversation with an administrator,” he said. “If you miss 15 class periods, then you won’t be a student in good standing for the rest of the semester.”

Contrary to popular belief, administrators don’t come to work looking to wield a hammer of discipline. 

“Ultimately we’re not doing this just to be jerks,” Herm said. “If students aren’t in class or they’re in the hallways, they’re not learning; the purpose is to help those people change their behaviors so that they can be successful.”

Principal Erin Kohl acknowledges the severity and repercussions of the growing trends. 

“Students who are chronically tardy or truant are significantly less successful in school, often failing classes and having to access credit recovery options or alternative programs in order to graduate,” she said. “Sadly, some of these students end up dropping out of school when they turn 18.”

Junior Audrey Kuen sees both sides of the administrative intent and the student reaction. 

“I think that it would help to enforce the new system more,” she said. “It would actually have kids going to school, but obviously kids are going to get more mad about it. Kids don’t really feel like it’s necessary to go to class, so they don’t.”

Sophomore Isabelle Tibbits is doubtful if new changes will have an impact. 

“With the way teachers go about the meetings, they won't be specific enough,” they said. “You have to go about it in a way that you’re not scolding them so they’ll actually listen.” 

Regardless, students and administrators alike recognize the need for a fresh start and change. 

“Now they’re actually doing something,” they said. “Anything is better than the old system.” 

Kohl sees positive potential with the new system. 

“Our deans and assistant principals have the primary role in the new attendance system,” she said. “The new system will be more effective because it enables us to find out the cause of the tardiness or truancy and create plans to help address those root causes.” 

By Anika Flores

February 21, 2023

Oshkosh West Index volume 119 Issue V