Pierre School Board OKs tardy policy

By Jeff Bunn
Capital Journal staff
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Nov 10, 2009 - 12:09:01 am CST

PIERRE — The Riggs High School tardy policy debated since the beginning of the school year is back.

Monday, the Pierre School Board unanimously approved a procedure known as “Sweeps,” a policy that disciplines students who are late for more than two classes by barring them from future classes they are late for and docking their grade by 25 percent.

“We’re pleased we can reinstate the new tardy policy,” said Riggs High School principal Mike Fugitt. “It will be our intention to do that a week from today. We think it will again have a positive effect on reducing the number of tardies and disruptions to classes.”

Board member Norm Lingle proposed an amendment that would have forced teachers to provide 25 percent extra credit to students late for more than two classes. The amendment failed with only Lingle and Todd Douglas voting in favor.

“We’re comfortable that will be addressed by students having the opportunity to do extra credit in the grading term,” Fugitt said. “We think that was there and that won’t be an issue with any students who want to take the responsibility to see staff and make arrangements for make-ups.”

Students who are late for more than two classes will be notified verbally by Fugitt or assistant principal Mike Stroup that they can contest the instances of tardiness.

Superintendent Dr. Kelly Glodt said he’s pleased with the reinstitution of the policy.

“We’re pretty convinced this is right,” he said. “There’s nothing saying after it’s implemented for the remainder of this school year they may be back with some revisions just like they do with many handbook revisions.”

Glodt said the policy was supported by many in the community and students at the school when it was first implemented and before it was suspended to address due process issues

He said he doesn’t believe the policy lacking a mandate that teachers provide extra credit for students impacted by Sweeps is a bad thing.

“We don’t want to get in the business of telling every teacher how they’re going to grade,” he said.

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Comments

16 comment(s)

Big Kahuna wrote on Nov 19, 2009 6:52 AM:

" I had previously commented on the sweeps policy that I didn't like the way it had been implemented. I stand by that statement but after talking with my Riggs students as well as other students and some teachers I am 100% in favor of the policy. Being responsible for ones actions is never a bad lesson and there is no reason to be chronically late for class. The board should not have allowed 2 free tardies. Parents should not be so negative about the school taking action to correct a problem. Don't enable the problem. "

Mom wrote on Nov 17, 2009 8:14 AM:

" I have 2 children up at Riggs and they both take school very seriously.

They don't need to hear excuses from parents or others that feel that it is OK for a child to walk in late to class, and they don't need to hear from parents or others saying they don't understand the need for discipline. There is a problem, so deal with it. The school is. "

Riggs Mom wrote on Nov 17, 2009 8:11 AM:

" To Recent Grad

Please don't be so niave to believe that incentives have not already been tried. My children have had teachers to give points for being on time and prepared for class. Those that are tardy on a regular basis just don't care. This incentive is meaningless to them. "

Public Outcry wrote on Nov 15, 2009 8:38 PM:

" Are you kidding me? This is one of the best procdeures ever implemented at Riggs. Open your eyes. Holding kids accountable for their actions is always good policy. What about the vast majority of folks who supported this? Don't their opinions count? If cronic tardiness becomes such a problem that it needs its own policy than there is obviously an issue. Helicoptor Moms with an agenda unite. "

Diligence wrote on Nov 15, 2009 10:14 AM:

" A big thank you to the parents with the courage to question the administration. Whether or not you agree with the policy, it is the responsibltiy of the community to keep the administration honest. Only the public outcry forced the administration to seek approval for and apply this policy within the rules. How many other policies are enforced unofficially or randomly on a daily basis? "

RecentRiggsGrad wrote on Nov 14, 2009 1:57 PM:

" To Riggs Mom -

I didn't assume that the policy was to punish students for going to class. Getting people to conform to rules and laws is all about incentives and disincentives. The goal of this policy is obviously to create a disincentive to being late to class.

However, I think it would be more effective to provide an incentive to being on time. Punishment is less effective than praise. Perhaps reserving 5% of a student's overall grade for attendance/tardiness would provide the right motivation to get to class on time. "

to taxpayer wrote on Nov 13, 2009 8:01 AM:

" Why should the school offer extra credit only for those who are late - this punishes the students who are in class on time every time. Does this mean that teachers should give an extra 25% extra credit for each time a child is swept? For some students that is 25% almost daily. That is just ridiculous.

Just think of the paperwork this causes the poor teacher that has to come up with all of this extra credit. "

too harsh wrote on Nov 12, 2009 8:57 PM:

" Washington High in SF has a similar policy except their students can receive zero credit for the work that day if they are swept. When kids need an exception to use the restroom etc they can always get a pass from a teacher. Some students are making a conscious choice to be tardy. Others are making the choice to be in class on time and prepared. It's really quite simple. A handful of students shouldn't disrupt the learning environment of the rest of the student body. The board got it right. "

taxpayer wrote on Nov 12, 2009 2:39 PM:

" I would still think giving kids who want to make up their 25% loss with extra credit would be better then giving each kid two free tardies each semester. If we are worried about disruption to the class, you still will have them as each kid gets to be late twice! I would have said no excuses, but if you want to make it up on your time, then yes, you can. I think this is what Lingle and Douglas were trying to get at, but the others had their minds made up. "

Riggs Mom wrote on Nov 12, 2009 8:02 AM:

" to RecentGrad: Your analogy is so off base that it becomes laughable.

This policy is telling kids that if they are late they will be punished, not they will be punished if they get to class. A better analogy would be if someone was speeding then they would have to pay a fine, or if someone was caught stealing then they would be arrested, have to pay fines, restitution and court costs.

Think about it: violation = punishment! "

former student wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:16 PM:

" I managed to get from one side to the other, stop at my locker or use the restroom and was never tardy once in all the time I went to school there. It most definitely can be done. Let's quit babying kids and make them accountable. "

Me wrote on Nov 10, 2009 3:48 PM:

" I have been reading the comments for the various articles on this subject, and am confused how people can think that being docked 25% for that day's assignments in that one class is equal to a 0. Some people need a math refresher course. If they lose 25%, that means they still get 75%, not 0. Also, it's just in the one class they miss, not all of it. I should add that some people appear to be low on reading comprehension as well. "

RecentRiggsGrad wrote on Nov 10, 2009 3:39 PM:

" I can't believe this rule. At what cost are we trying to teach high school students the "life lesson" of timeliness? According to this rule, we are obviously willing to sacrifice education.

I don't doubt there is a problem of student tardiness at Riggs. However, the administration's method of punishment is exactly the opposite of the policy they are trying to encourage - increased attendance and decreased tardiness.

An analogy would be to punish the poor by fining them thousands of dollars or to encourage donating to charity by taxing those donations at excessive rates. "

Marine wrote on Nov 10, 2009 2:07 PM:

" First extra credit on a assignment that earned no credit is still a very low grade, thus affecting scholarship opportunities. Also if a student is late one time they are out of strikes so to speak. Take to long in the bathroom or unable to get from one class to your locker and then to class on other side of school and you are out of luck, go see the principal. I guess the school feels this is best way to teach students that life is not fair and to suck it up. "

Annonymous wrote on Nov 10, 2009 10:29 AM:

" This is a good life lesson for the students to realize how important being on time is throughout the rest of theirs lifes. Be it school or work. "

Pioneer wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:19 AM:

" Rules, Discipline and Authority are as important in education as the three Rs.
Allowing students to drift into school late with no consequences is establishing lifelong habits. All lessons cannot be written on paper. "

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