THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412200128
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
An upward trend in student attendance this year continued in November, with secondary schools posting an overall 2 percent increase over last year and elementary schools a 1 percent rise.
Administrators credit a tough new attendance policy for much of the gains, as much as 5 percent over last year in some schools.
Based on this year's enrollment figures, Robert Hahne, a director of school governance, estimates a decrease in absenteeism in November equal to 11,122 student days. That translates, on average, to about 500 more students attending school each day at the city's 48 schools.
``If we can convert that to learning and cognition it would be outstanding,'' Hahne said.
Hahne told the School Board that 36 schools, or 75 percent, improved attendance over November 1993.
Big gainers: Granby High and Campostella Elementary, 5 percent; Lake Taylor High, Booker T. Washington High and Lafayette-Winona Middle, 4 percent; and Maury High, Azalea Gardens Middle, Lake Taylor Middle, Northside Middle, Norview Middle, Ruffner Middle and Suburban Park Elementary, 3 percent.
Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. said some parents have complained that the new attendance policy is too restrictive: Kids who miss 10 days in a semester course or 20 days for the year - regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused - risk failing.
But Nichols said he has instructed principals not to be too heavy-handed in enforcing it. Principals have discretion in determining whether an absence was unavoidable, and there is an appeals process students can follow if they are dissatisfied with the principal's ruling.
``We've been talking to principals to make sure they approach this in a reasonable manner,'' Nichols said.
``Our intent is to keep kids in school and help them succeed,'' Hahne said. ``It's not our intent to bash kids.''
School Board member Joe Waldo said the attendance gains shows that ``there are a lot of things we can do to make a difference, and it doesn't cost a whole lot of money.''
Overall attendance in November was 88 percent at the high schools, 92 percent at the middle schools and 96 percent at the elementaries. by CNB