What We Have Already Done
What follows is our attempts to go through the proper channels to get this policy corrected. In addition to the following, we met with Dr. Lackey and Mr. Pennington on Dec. 7th. (see post-Comments from Meeting with Superintendent)
This website was created as the next step so we can get public comment.
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show details Dec 8 (2 days ago)
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Please forward me the complete attendance policy. I cannot find it on the website. The only place I remember seeing it is in the newsletter. Has it been published anywhere else?
Thanks,
Carol Duvall
(No response as of Dec 10)
| from | Carol Duvall <duvallfive@gmail.com> |
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| to | evelyn.cundiff@frco.k12.va.us |
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| date | Mon, Nov 30, 2009 at 8:05 AM |
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| subject | We would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience |
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Dear Mrs. Cundiff,
You will see from the attached letters that I have taken the appropriate steps to resolve this very important issue but I continue to face great frustration in trying to get action on the new attendance policy.
My husband and I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience. At the end of all these letters, I have summarized what happened when our daughter was attacked and she tried to defend herself.
Thanks,
Carol Duvall
(She called and said that we had to go back to Dr. Lackey, she was not in a position to do anything)
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Thanks,
Carol Duvall
From: Duvall Family [mailto:duvallfive@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:37 AM
To: Marilyn Starkey; G.B. Washburn; Stephen Brubaker; Edward Jamison; Evelyn Cundiff; Sarah Alexander; P. D. Hambrick; William Helm; Charles Lackey; Sue Rogers
Subject: Concern about a school policy
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Dear Members of the Board and Dr. Lackey,
I have three children at the High School and three at the Middle School.
In brief, I am concerned about the new attendance policy. If a student is absent for more than seven days in a 9 week period, they are given an F for the period in most cases. The student can apply for an attendance waiver; however, in some cases it is very unlikely to be allowed.
My main concern about this is that if a student misses 10 days early in the nine weeks, they have almost no incentive to show up or do work (especially homework) for the remainder of the nine weeks. In most cases, they are going to receive an F. They are given the opportunity to go to Saturday School up to twice but that is only effective if they have missed 7 or fewer days and two days of it costs $40. The result of this policy can be that an excellent honor’s student could have that F averaged into his/her GPA. I have been told that the policy was to make it less likely that they would fail the semester. However, let’s say that a student misses 10 days in first nine weeks, gets the F, and then makes an A in the second nine weeks. His GPA now has a C average in each of those classes! Ouch! Using the old policy, they would have still had a chance to receive an A for the semester if they did not miss any more days.
Some callously say that if they missed more than 10 days they “deserve” those severe consequences. If that was your child, would you truly feel that way? Many causes for missing school are not under the control of that particular student.
So why do I bring this up? It is because of our experience with our foster child in 9th grade. She was involved in a fight resulting in the automatic 10 day suspension. Seeing the results of this policy in action scares the heck out of me for my other children and all other children. I can understand a zero tolerance for fighting policy; however, the consequences for defending oneself when attacked should not be that your GPA is knocked down so significantly. Obviously, for many students the grades issue is not a big deal. But, if my Honors students had this happen to them, I would probably officially homeschool them for the semester so that I could give them the grades they earned. As you know, competition for college is tough.
Please, please consider these aspects of the attendance policy and maybe the auto suspension policy (for being involved in a fight even when all witnesses say it is not the student’s fault.)
I definitely would like a response.
Sincerely,
Carol Duvall
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Charles Lackey <charles.lackey@frco.k12.va.us>
Date: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Subject: RE: Concern about a school policy
To: Duvall Family <duvallfive@gmail.com>
Cc: Sue Rogers <sue.rogers@frco.k12.va.us>, Keith Pennington <keith.pennington@frco.k12.va.us>, Debora Decker <debora.decker@frco.k12.va.us>
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Ms. Duvall,
I appreciate your concern for your children and for the district.
My specific recommendation to you is to be sure to communicate and ask questions of both the administrators and counselors at your children’s schools regarding disciplinary issues, instructional issues and attendance issues.
I believe that you will find that at ALL levels the school districts intent is for students to be both responsible for their actions and to be successful in their studies and their grades.
Schools and district always struggle with what is the best attendance polices for all students and all situations.
In ALL situations, communications with the administrations, teachers and counselors can have the desired effect for success.
With parents like you who are diligent and caring—together we can make success happen.
Discipline policies are not automatic but are specific to the particular discipline and to the severity of the action.
If students take their discipline seriously and work hard to catch up, do work while they are our on suspension and take advantage of opportunities (i.e. Saturday school) and have legitimate excuses (documented) for their absences– than grades can be protected as can credits.
Again work with school personnel . They will appreciate and respect your advocacy for your children and they will let you know what is needed to answer questions with grades and credits.
After working with building personnel and teachers if you still have questions/issues you can work with district personnel to help resolve or understand issues.
Charlie Lackey
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Duvall Family
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to Charles, Sue, Keith, Debora
show details Oct 23
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I have spoken with everyone with whom I know to speak. The gist is as I relayed it in the letter- that they do not expect that they would give an attendance waiver if the child was suspended. They said I can request it in January. I do not feel it is fair for us to all have to wait until then to know. I know that this policy is new and maybe some will be willing to work out the kinks but we need them to be addressed as the “kinks” are discovered, not months later.
A parent should not have to go in and talk to as many as Brian and I have. I have spoken with attendance, guidance, teachers and Mr. Crutchfield and someone at the school board. They all have pretty much said that they have no say in the matter- it is school board policy. What am I to do now?
Thank you for your guidance in this matter,
Carol Duvall
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Ms. Duvall,
Have you had any response from the superintendant on this yet. I am just one member just speaking for myself and my feeling, I believe that the policy for fighting is correct and justify. However you are right that the innocent can be drag into this fight. Hopefully you have heard back from the school board office on the these.
Please let me know if not. I do thank you for you voice of concern on these policies.
Yours truly,
Ed Jamison
Duvall Family
to Cindy, Sue, edward.jamison, Charles, Keith, Debora, bcc: Brian
show details Nov 6
Thank you Mr. Jamison for responding, only you and Dr. Lackey and Mrs. Starkey have done so. Below you can see Dr. Lackey’s response and then my response back to him. I have spoken with so many in the administration without anyone being able to say that ________’s grades will not be affected by the fight. It is actually the opposite- most have said that the grades will still have the F averaged in for the semester.
I am not pursuing this just in defense of ________. My concern remains with all the others that may be affected.
Everyone I have spoken with outside of administration have expressed my concerns should their children be involved in a similar situation. They have all said that they personally would find it difficult even as adults not to “fight back” especially in a situation where the aggressor has said things like “I’ll get you by the end of school”. Ten, eleven or twelve years worth of work can seriously be affected by one incident of this kind. The policy needs to be changed so that the consequences fit the situation.
Please Mr. Jamison, help me know what to do next to follow up on this- it has been over a week since I have heard from anyone. When is the school board meeting on Monday? Do I need to be there?
My suggestion- drop the automatic “F” for more than seven days missed (even with going to Sat. school). I was going to say that you could leave it as a “threat” but then my concern is that, as I said in an earlier email, any child that missed that much early on and did not have a proactive parent may be smart enough to realize that there was no real benefit to making much of an effort for the rest of the nine weeks- go ahead and skip school, disrupt class or whatever! My kids have told me of friends that have said they are coming to school sick because of the policy, so much for minimizing the threat of H1N1 spreading!
I find it hard to believe that with the all the information available for sharing that our administration would not find a policy that produces the effects we want/need in our school system.
Thanks for listening,
Carol Duvall
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Marilyn Starkey
to me, Charles
show details Oct 23
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Dear Carol,
Thank you for bringing your concerns to Board.
Please contact Mrs. Decker’s office and the school guidance counselor to review this particular situation regarding your child.
Sincerely,
- Show quoted text -
Marilyn Starkey
Duvall Family
to Marilyn
show details Oct 23
I have been in touch with Mr. Crutchfield, he said it is a school board policy. Please make sure you guys consider all the effects this policy can have. I would be heartbroken if Scott had that happen and ruined his transcript. I can understand giving F to students that just skipped out and in many other situations where effort is not made by the student. If you guys are not going to readdress this policy, who should I go to next.
Thanks,
Carol Duvall
Reply
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The Events of Oct 5th::
On Oct 5th I received a call from, I believe, Mr. Crutchfield informing me that my daughter, ________, had been suspended for being involved in a fight.
On Oct 6 ________ and I went to the school to pick up school work and speak with administration. I spoke with her teacher, Mr. Janney. He said that the other girl, ________ had been trying to pick a fight in his class (the class that preceded the one with the fight in Ms. Smith’s class).
Ms. Smith met with us with Mr. Crutchfield and stated that she believed ________’s comment that she did not start it and that she was so sorry that she did not see it start. (She was greeting students in the doorway)
Several students told us that ________ had been in a really bad mood, looking for a fight. All the witnesses said that the fight occurred as ________ stated:
________ went in to the class and sat on the floor in anticipation of the movie they were about to watch.
________sat at her own desk. The two started kidding each other about being short- both are shorter than average. Then ________ got mouthy and started making threats including,”I’m going to get you before school is out”. ________ said, “If you have something to say to me, why don’t you say it to my face?” ________ came over to ________ on the floor and got in her face. ________ put her hand up to get her out of her face- but did not push. ________ started back to her desk and then turned around and went back to J and jumped on her. ________ mainly tried to get her off of her but did “fight” for her freedom. ________ had her by the hair. The fight broke off after Ms. Smith entered. I think Mr. Crutchfield then took the girls to the nurse and got their statements. They were both suspended for 10 days.
Mr. Crutchfield said that very few fights ever happen in a classroom and that ________ should have known to “duck and cover” and scream for help as she was having her hair pulled and being punched. This is an unreasonable expectation unless each child has not only been told this but actually instructed as to how to do it successfully. Out of the 50 + people I have spoken with, none have said that they would expect to do that themselves or have their child do it.
Mrs. Decker later stated to my husband that________’s comment about saying it to her face provoked the fight. My husband replied, that would be the same thinking as saying that a girl that wore a sexy skirt deserved it if she got raped. Ridiculous, don’t you agree?
If things went as stated, I am furious that both girls got the same discipline. Then to add to it, I discovered that the attendance policy only serves to decrease the likelihood of success.
Please help!
Carol Duvall
January 11th, 2009 Presentation to the School Board
by Carol Duvall
