Hempfield to reexamine attendance policy

Hempfield Area school board members could change their attendance policy in an effort to ensure students are engaged in real-time learning after several teachers reported a higher number of students failing courses, district officials said.

As the policy stands, if a student is engaging in their work, regardless of whether they are in class or attending virtually, they are not marked absent.

A lack of engagement, however, led to district officials hosting an attendance meeting this month. Recommendations centered around creating an expectation that students would be required to partake in live, or synchronous, learning when instructed virtually rather than watching a recording of the class.

Students who do not participate in live classes, regardless of whether they submit work, will be marked absent beginning Nov. 16.

“A frustration for our teachers is when students do not participate on their virtual days synchronously,” Superintendent Tammy Wolicki said. “A student merely watching a recording of the lesson at a later time does not provide that opportunity for the teacher to check for understanding, for the student to ask questions, and they felt there was a much higher quality education provided when students participate synchronously on their virtual day.”

She noted that, while absenteeism is low across the district, “we feel (attendance) is inflated. It’s not accurate of the engagement of students.”

Other recommendations including having students commit to an instructional model — a hybrid mix of in-person and online classes, or fully virtual — to help teachers better know which students are supposed to be in class. That commitment also would allow teachers to plan better for days students attend class in person.

While the board did not take action on the proposed changes, some members — including board President Tony Bompiani and Vince DeAugustine — expressed concerns.

“I don’t like the being marked absent. I know it’s difficult,” DeAugustine said. “My thing is, I know there are kids that take pride in not missing class. In the covid era, I don’t think it’s a good situation to send your kid if he has a sore throat, but I also don’t think they should be marked absent.”

Wolicki noted that being marked absent “is not a bad thing,” and students are able to catch up on classes by viewing the recordings. She added students also have a total of 15 excused absences before a medical excuse is required, an increase from 10 after officials urged students to stay home if they were experiencing covid symptoms.

“We realize, for some students, they are able to miss a class and complete work, but as we’re looking at an administrative regulation connected to our policy, we’re looking at what is the best practice for the majority of students,” Wolicki said.