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MES ATTENDANCE POLICY
Posted On:
Tuesday, October 02, 2018

ATTENDANCE POLICY

School will not be in session on those days which the Carroll County Board of Education deems hazardous to the safe operation of buses. Both local radio stations and WBBJ TV should announce closings by 7:00 a.m. They should also announce re-openings by 5:00 p.m. the day before re-opening. McKenzie Special School District (MSSD) also offers “Notify Me” where an alert can be sent directly to your cell phone or email address. You may sign up for this at www.mckenzieschools.org.

 

Regular attendance is an essential ingredient for a student to achieve success in school. It has been proven that one of the most common causes of failure in school is poor or irregular attendance. Students are expected to be in school promptly and daily. It is the parents’/guardians’ responsibility to encourage and see to the regular school attendance of their student as mandated by state law.

 

If students are absent for ANY reason they must bring a note in order to be readmitted to class and to make up work missed during their absence. The note must be written and signed by a parent or guardian and provide an explanation for the absence. Personal illness, death in the family, subpoenaed court appearances, hospitalization and emergency conditions or education/school-related activities as determined by the principal are the only EXCUSED absences, and students will be allowed to make up work. After three days of unexcused absences, parents will be notified by mail according to state law regarding truancy (T.C.A. 49-6-3007). In addition, a call may be made by the principal or designee. Truancy is defined as the absence for an entire school day or the major portion of the school day. The principal or designee will notify the parents/guardians concerning truancy as follows if appropriate documentation is not provided to the school:

·         After three days unexcused: mailed letter that attendance is required by law;

·         After five days unexcused: second contact by principal or designee and begin the progressive truancy intervention requirements as described in T.C.A. 49-6-3009;

o   Tier 1—required conference with parent/guardian, attendance contract to be signed by parent, student and designee stating period the contract is in effect, penalties for additional absences beyond the five unexcused and regularly scheduled follow-up meetings to discuss the student’s progress;

o   Tier 2—additional unexcused absences in violation of attendance contract will require a school designee to make a determination of reasons the student has been absent and/or refer student to counseling services;

o   Tier 3—if Tier 1 and 2 interventions unsuccessful then student will attend either Saturday or other after school courses designed to improve attendance and behavior;

o   If student remains truant after these measures are implemented, then the parent/guardian will be reported to the General Sessions Court for adjudication.

 

After three (3) “Mommy notes” the student must provide an excuse from a doctor for any additional absences. It will be the responsibility of the student/parent to provide evidence that all absences in excess of three days (a day consisting of a full day or any portion of a day) were missed as a result of being under a doctor’s care by providing the school with written proof from a physician. The only exception will be as follows:

1.    Students certified by a physician to be physically unable to attend school and placed on homebound instruction.

2.    Student in in-school suspension (days do not count toward the five day total).

3.    Student dismissed from compulsory attendance.

4.    Student who miss as a result of a religious holiday regularly observed by their faith.

5.    Student absent due to the death of a family member (must provide service program from funeral home).

Students who have experienced circumstances which have warranted an unusual number of absences may request a hearing with the McKenzie Special School District Board of Education. Truancy will result in the parents being referred to General Sessions Court.

 

 

SCHOOL DAY (7:45 A.M.-3:00 P.M.)

Doors open for students at 7:00 A.M. and the school day begins promptly at 7:45 A.M. When students arrive at school, they are to go directly to the gym. Those who eat breakfast will be directed to the cafeteria by the hall duty teacher. Breakfast ends at 7:45 A. M. When the 7:45 bell rings, students will go to their homeroom.

 

The tardy bell rings at 7:55 A. M. and classes will begin promptly at that time. Important daily lessons begin immediately each morning. Tardies interfere with the teaching and learning of all students by disrupting the classroom environment.Students who arrive after 7:55 must report to the office.

 

Five tardies will equal one afternoon in Extended Time-out (ET) 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. End of school dismissal begins at 2:55 p.m. Students who are checked out of school prior to 2:45 p.m. miss classroom instruction. Checking out prior to 2:45 p.m. also counts as a “tardy.” After three (3) tardies a student will accrue one unexcused absence that will count toward truancy.

 

 

DISMISSAL DURING THE DAY

Students will not be permitted to leave school before the regular dismissal time unless a parent comes to school for them and clears the dismissal with the office. The person who enters the office must be able to present an I.D for verification. Further, it will be necessary for the person picking the student up to already have his/her name on file in the office. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to maintain an up to date list of individuals who are permitted to pick up their student. When students return to school they must check in at the office with a note stating the reason for absence.

 

 

As of January 1, 2018 the use of a handheld cell phone while in a school zone is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fine of up to $50. The law pertains to the operation of a motor vehicle in any marked school zone in this state, when a flasher or flashers are in operation, and you talk on a handheld mobile phone while the vehicle is in motion. Please be mindful of this while driving.

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