HHS has four new changes for the 2024-2025 school year.
Several changes presented themselves at the start of the Hastings High 2024-2025 school year with new policies put in place to alleviate the number of student absences.
The recent revamp to the attendance policy limits students to eight unexcused absences, including absences for medical purposes without a physician’s note, and requires a two-week notice for special circumstances. The change brought feedback in regard to what should be considered an unexcused absence for students who may be sick often and not have the time or money to go to the doctor.
“I think it’s a little ridiculous because sick days count as unexcused… barely anybody is actually sick enough (to need) to go to the doctor when they’re home from school,” junior Ashlin George said.
Some students think the attendance policy is beneficial in preventing parents from making false medical excused absences, but getting a doctor’s note for it to be excused can be an inconvenience for students.
“It does benefit the school when kids are faking medical issues or faking being sick to get out of things, but it’s possibly going to be a hassle for kids who are sick or do have something going on,” junior Alex Stanford said.
Principal Linden said he and staff are willing to work with those who are struggling or are under extenuating circumstances.
“Yeah, you’re going to be sick sometimes, and we get that. That’s why we allotted so many days of kind of like freebies, but at the same time it’s important to be in school because when you’re not in school it’s hard to learn and you’re not going to get the best education possible, but we do understand that life happens,” Linden said.
When students accumulate a total of eight unexcused absences in a class in one semester, they will receive a half-credit deduction from the class. The deduction can be appealed within seven days of receiving a “Notification of the Loss of Credit” letter by contacting school administration.
“Sure, (credit deduction) is an incentive, but it’s such an extreme measure,” junior Fernando Petitt said. “…I would bet that Mr. Linden would make (emergencies) excused, but the policy is so rigid and inflexible that if you just look at the policy, it won’t let you.”
Other students expressed that it may help their peers with meeting graduation requirements.
“I think that will help with it being an incentive to get kids to actually show up. I know with some students, they’re doing the summer school hours because they’re finally realizing that, ‘Oh! If I don’t retake this class, I won’t graduate,’” Stanford said.
Principal Linden clarified that communications and support will be in place to prevent students from reaching eight unexcused absences, and the objective is not to punish but to support students who are struggling.
“Yeah we’re going to be (lenient)… I think that when you read the policy it’s like, ‘Oh wow, this is really harsh.’ But, what the policy doesn’t express is the support we have in place before kids even get to that point,” Linden said. “When we get to the point of (being) too late, it’s hard. It’s one of those things that we know it’s not perfect, but as we work through it, we will make adjustments and make it better for everybody.”
In addition to the new attendance policy, a change to the phone policy was made. Students are no longer able to use their phones in the halls on their way to lunch in order to help differentiate students who are going to the restrooms and using their phone without permission.
“It’s definitely a minor change. I mean, it’s nice to use your phone, but I guess a five minute period without it won’t kill anyone,” George said.
Stanford understands the sentiment behind the policy, but is unsure of how effective it is.
“I think it’s insane! That’s what I think… I can understand, ‘Oh, we don’t know if this kid is actually going to lunch or (if) this kid is going to the bathroom,’ but kids are going to have their phones when they go to the bathroom either way,” Stanford said.
Additionally, a new T3 system was implemented called Securly Flex. Securly had bought out and replaced the old Edficiency system a week before the start of the school year which had caused many, including staff, to have to freshly learn the new system.
“(It’s) not off to a great start… (but) I think it will improve,” Stanford said.
There had been no considerations of any more major changes in the future according to Linden.
“I think over the last few years I’ve been principal here, we’ve made a lot of positive change and growth within the students and the staff and just the culture of the building…,” Linden said. “I feel like we’re on the right track. We’re learning and growing together, and our overall goal is to help people become the best people they can be before they leave here.”
