By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – The Ashwaubenon school board is stating in no uncertain terms that tardiness will be considered when determining habitual truancy for non-resident students wanting to attend school in the district under open enrollment.
The board agreed Wednesday, Oct. 24, to add language to the district’s policies on the open enrollment program and attendance so that when determining habitual truancy, a student’s overall attendance is taken into consideration, including tardiness.
Jennifer Bower, secretary to the superintendent and school board, informed board members the changes are being recommended as a result of the state Department of Public Instruction overturning the district’s denial of an open enrollment application due to habitual truancy.
“The state overturned that because we did not have anywhere in our policies that said tardiness is looked at when it comes to a habitual truant,” Bower said.
The wording added to the policies to include tardiness states, “When determining habitual truancy, a student’s overall attendance is taken into consideration (i.e. any absence from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more days, including tardiness, on which school is held during a school semester).”