Consequence process for tardies streamlined

Muhammad Yusuf TarrStaff WriterSamo administrators have worked to streamline the school tardy policy, while a revised detain system is still in the works, according to H-House Principal Leslie Wells.According to I-House Principal Renée Semik, students will no longer receive detentions for their fifth and sixth tardies.“The new process streamlines this, freeing up advisors to spend more time on other things, not just focusing on those students who have increased tardiness,” H-House principal Leslie Wells said. “ We want to see advisors be able to actually meet with students and counsel them, not wasting time giving consequences that don’t seem to have the desired effect on changing the behavior of coming to class late.”According to Kurtenbach, Samo is moving toward Saturday School sessions because they have been shown to be more effective than detentions.“There were changes seen to student choices once they had earned Saturday School,” Kurtenbach said. “ Given the time advisors were putting into running tardy reports, writing tardy detention notices, and running detention and the overall lack of effectiveness of those efforts, we decided to make an adjustment to the consequences.”According to Wells the administration is also trying to change their policy on detains.“If a student chooses to be detained by a teacher, he/she is running the risk of getting a tardy,” Well said. “ Only the house principals can validate a teacher’s detain and prevent it from becoming a tardy.  If students start getting tardies because they stay behind with a teacher, they might think twice about whether or not they really need to stay.”Wells said that administrators saw an increase in the number of detains this year.“There are times when it is  appropriate for a student to be detained, but the decision on whether or not that is true should rest with administrators,” Wells said. “When students realize that they need to take that extra step to go to a house office in the hopes of getting a detain that doesn’t result in a tardy, they will be less likely to remain behind in a teacher’s classroom.”According to Wells, the new policy has not yet been announced to the student body.“Policies change all the time [and] we do not always remember to republish them during the school year, but policies are always published in the Binder Reminder,” Wells said. “We do often ask teachers to tell their homeroom students about policy changes.  For some, we also call home and notify parents of the changes, too.”Sydney Krasny (‘15) said the new stance on detains is unfair to students.“I think detains should be permitted,” Krasny said. “Detains allow for teachers to extend time with students as long as they believe it’s necessary.  Going through administration only makes students later to class.”However, Mahmoud Hamza (‘13) said that he understands that a change in the policy is needed.“I believe that for the most part, our teachers do a great job of maintaining [detains],” Hamza said. “If teachers have voiced concerns, then yes, I understand the need in change of the policy.”Wells believes that the change in the policy is for the sole benefit of students.“Ultimately, we want students to be in class, Wells said. “Arriving late to class may prevent a student from learning something that will come up on an assessment later on.”mytarr@thesamohi.com