Why the sudden change of a new attendance policy in the middle of the year? Many students are asking this question because they don’t approve of the policy change. The school has noticed that there has been a big increase in all the students’ absences last semester at Coconino High School. According to the school, the students are not taking school as serious as they should. Many students have their opinion on the policy but most disagree with it.

The new attendance policy changes started on January 7, 2008. The new changes are that after the 13th absence, students will lose credit. They can appeal the process but the students will have to continue to attend and participate in their classes. Also, there is no more connections program for the students to make up missed time.

Another significant change is that there are no more tardies. If a student is late, they will be marked absent instead of late. The CHS staff thinks that it’s a positive change while students disagree.

Reyna Ramos, a student at CHS said, “If you’re hurrying to make it to school, accidents can happen just because you don’t want to be marked absent.”

Mr. Bonderud, the assistant principal said, “The new attendance policy working well and it has had a positive impact, and that it’s better for the student’s academics in the way that students are attending class more often.” He also noted they had to remove the CONNECTIONS program this semester because many students would sign up but they wouldn’t follow up on their word or attend the program.

The school’s staff is willing to be encouraging to the students and work with the students who have any attendance or tardies problems. But if students continue on not attending class or arriving late, they will either be pulled out of the class or put into another program which could include New Start or Ponderosa.

Even though the plan seems kind of strict, all what Coconino High School wants is to improve on the attendance and academic learning of students.