On Jan. 14, the Meridian High School administration released an announcement establishing a stricter policy regarding student attendance.
This policy reinforces prior methods used to address absences, including alerting parents during the day if a student has an unexcused absence for one or more classes. Other methods also include sending attendance notifications to parents once a student reaches a significant amount of full day absences, both excused and unexcused. Administration will also send parents a detailed breakdown of individual classes in which students have been marked unexcused. However, the most significant change is how strictly the consequences are now being enforced.
In the past, if a student had unexcused absences, school administrators would often send emails to parents informing them of their child’s attendance. Consequences were seldom enforced, and the problem often only escalated if students reached an extensive number of unexcused absences.
According to the email sent by administration to students and parents, “Unexcused absences and skipping class are violations of the FCCPS Code of Conduct. When students are found in violation of this policy they may be subject to disciplinary action (e.g., detention).”
Students have already started receiving emails about mandatory detentions due to unexcused absences.
According to sophomore Anastacia Gjorgjijevski, “I received an email from admin stating that I had to go to detention because of an unexcused absence, but when I went to it I was told that I only had one unexcused absence, so I didn’t have to go to detention.” Statements like this raise the question of if the new policy really will be enforced as strongly as Meridian admin has suggested.
Meridian staff seem to generally be in favor of the new policy.
“I think it’s a good idea. Attendance is important and honestly, for safety reasons, it’s good to know where our students are,” guidance counselor Mr. Brad McAdam said.
Unlike staff, the student body has mixed opinions on the new policy, with many frustrated, but some recognizing the possible positive effects that could come as a result of enforcing proper attendance.
Junior Aldyn Freisen shared her opinion on the policy, stating, “I personally don’t like it because I don’t enjoy going to Stable Group, but I guess it’s good that they’re enforcing it.”
Although there have been mixed opinions from students and administrators regarding the new policy and different views on the effectiveness of the newly enforced consequences, it appears the policy is here to stay.
