School Handbooks Have Some Changes

LINCOLN — There have been some changes in the Lincoln High School handbooks for students in grades 8-12 for the 2013-14 school year. Handbooks were given to each student with a few pages students and parents have to sign and turn back in to the school.

Becki Griscom, director of support services, told the Lincoln School Board about some of the changes at the Aug. 12 meeting. One of the changes will involve student absences.

“Last year students could accumulate 10 days excused and unexcused absences,” Griscom said. “This year that will change to six days for excused absences.” The high school will accept excuses written by a parent in case of doctor appointments, illness in the family or faith-based reasons.

There will be five unexcused absences before a student loses credit hours, according to Griscom. After three unexcused student absences parents will be notified by phone or letter or both.

Saturday school if needed was a handbook item that board member Kendra Moore questioned. “It sounds complex and I would like to know more about it.”

Griscom explained the Saturday school would be for four hours and give

“Last year students could accumulate 10 days excused and unexcused absences. This year that will change to six days for excused absences.” Becki Griscom Director of support services

students a chance to make up credit hours, also used for students who have seven tardies. It would also be used for character building lessons for students.

Courtney Jones, high school principal, said she approved of a Saturday school when it was needed.

Moore said she would still like to know more about it before adding it to the handbook due to the extra cost of having teachers work on Saturday.

Moving on to other handbook business, Griscom pointed out a period of silence will begin each school day. Students will stand for that minute using it for silent prayer or whatever a student wanted to think about. Students will then recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Griscom said something new for freshman starting in 2014 and approved by state legislators in their last session would be having to take a digital course.

“Every ninth grader will have to take the digital course,” Griscom said. “It can be in any subject but must be taken in order to graduate.”

The change that had board members asking more questions was that only students assigned to a certain bus route would be able to ride the bus home.

Scott Davis, board member, asked about friends going home with friends.

“We used to be able to take a friend home with us on the bus or ride home with them,” Davis said. “I’m sure this is something that still comes up today.”

“Students will no longer be able to ride a bus they are not assigned to due to the occupancy level,” Griscom said.

“Most of the buses are at or just below capacity,” said Steve Flickinger, director of transportation. “This has all come about because of cutting two bus routes last year.”

Griscom said a big problem on buses has been when students have other students ride home with them for sleep-overs. “Then it becomes overcrowded and it’s about the safety for kids.”

“We ran into that last year even at the high school level,” said Mary Ann Spears, superintendent.

“Well, maybe we need to add back another bus route,” said Connie Meyer, board member.

“It’s hard to see it unless you’re dealing with it,” Griscom said. “Especially if it’s a large group of kids. Parents will just have to take their kids to a friend’s home.”

Griscom told the board they would not have to worry about the school choice law until June 1, 2014, and she doubted it would be much of a problem for Lincoln.

The handbook also has a change in the district’s drug policy. A Statement of Purpose will have to be signed by parents and any student participating in extracurricular activities.

Deon Birkes, athletic director, helped research other schools’ drug policies, talked to students and parents before rewriting the Lincoln district’s new policy.

“We would like to give students a reason to say no to drugs,” Birkes said.

If a student does test positive for drugs, the student will be placed on probation for 30 school days and not allowed to participate in competitions, presentations, activities nor having driving privileges at district locations. Parents can request their child be drug tested even if the child is not participating in extracurricular activities.

The board approved the handbooks for this school year with the exception of tardy cards, Saturday classes and lunch charges. Those items were tabled until a later date.