FACULTY HANDBOOK

2011-2012

August, 2011

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year! This handbook is intended to give

you a better understanding of the policies, procedures and daily operations at

A.T.E.M.S. Entering our THIRD year, it is clear that the need for a faculty

handbook becomes more important as we continue to add staff and students.

This is a living document that we will be adding to throughout the year

as we deem necessary.

I’d like to welcome all of you to the Academy. From our days at the Texas

Tech University building on N. 3rd and Pine, to our time at the TSTC

building, we have come a long ways. No longer are we a school of 6

teachers and 85 students. Although we are now a school of 24 staff

members and 265 students, we continue to look at building strong, personal

and meaningful working relationships in order to establish a high school that

we can all be proud of. Every new face gives us another chance to make a

difference in a child’s life.

I hope you have much success in teaching our students. I will work hard in

establishing meaningful relationships with parents, developing a purposeful

partnership within the community and assisting to make your classroom

environment safe and secure. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance

when you have a concern or to share successful strategies that will benefit

other teachers. Together, we can learn from each other and become better

educators.

Respectfully,

John M. Martinez

Director

2011-2012

A.T.E.M.S.

Traditional Bell Schedule

A.T.E.M.S. HIGH SCHOOL

Mission Statement: Our mission is to prepare students for success in the global community as lifelong learners. A.T.E.M.S. will foster an environment focused on innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum. Working independently and in teams, students will complete rigorous, real-world assignments and projects that prepare them for post-secondary ambitions. Vision: The Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science’s vision is to provide meaningful opportunities in a learning community that encourages shared decision making, ethical relationships and service to others through the use of 21st century skills and technology.

1st 8:40 9:26 46 min 2nd 9:29 10:15 46 min

3rd 10:18 11:04 46 min

A Lunch 11:04 11:34 30 min

4th 11:37 12:23 46 min

4th 11:07 11:53 46 min

B Lunch 11:53 12:23 30 min

5th 12:26 1:12 46 min 6th 1:15 2:01 46 min

7th 2:04 2:50 46 min PRIMETIME 2:50 3:15 25 min

FACULTY/STAFF WORK DAY FACULTY MEETINGS/RECHARGER/BULL PEN

The work day for teachers is 8:00am - 4:00pm unless otherwise designated by the director. All teachers are expected to sign in and sign out every day. The sign in sheet will be located in the teacher workroom, by the copier. Your teacher mailboxes are located in the workroom, by the copier. All faculty members are expected to attend faculty meetings unless assigned elsewhere. These meetings will be scheduled from 3:45-4:45pm every other Wednesday or as needed. All faculty members are expected to sign in at each meeting. Anyone missing a faculty meeting will be expected to check on the material presented and assume the responsibility of any directive issued during the meeting. Critical Friends Group meetings will meet from 8:00-8:30am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. If a teacher requests a Critical Friends conference besides the scheduled meetings, the Principal will ask for three teachers to volunteer. If three teachers do not volunteer, the Principal will assign three teachers to assist with the requested Critical Friends gathering.

PROCEDURES FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, 2011-2012

Who is responsible for substitute teachers?

Shared responsibility… Faculty or staff member / Administrator- John Martinez

Ultimately it is the faculty or staff member’s job to be sure they have arranged

for a substitute to fill his/her position.

What is the procedure?

Arranging in advance:

You are required to let Mr. Martinez know in writing and verbally. You may

either email or write a simple letter stating when you will be taking time off from

duty.

Please check with Mrs. Goetz first before requesting a sub. She will assist you in

identifying a substitute that may have previously worked at ATEMS.

Call the subfinder at 794-1315 (or go online to access subfinder under faculty

tools at www.abileneisd.org and arrange for a substitute. Choose either subfinder

select or request a sub*. Always make sure you are given a job number or no sub

will be provided!

* You may make contact with the sub of your choice, arrange the date(s), and

follow the procedures above. If you call in rather than going online, you

will need the requested sub’s 4 digit ID# to request a sub. If online, you

can request using sub’s name.

Fill in an “ABSENCE FROM DUTY” form (including the job #) and turn in to

Mrs. Goetz as early as possible.

Be sure your lesson plans are ready for the substitute and all necessary ma

terials are on hand.

Arranging for a sudden illness or emergency:

Call the subfinder at 794-1315 (or go online to access sub-finder) and arrange

for a substitute. (Be sure you are given a job number or no sub will be

provided!)

You may make personal contact with the sub of your choice, arrange the date(s),

and follow the procedures above.

Be sure your lesson plans are ready for the substitute and all necessary materials

are on hand.

In emergency situations only (You are unable to arrange your own substitute

because you are incapacitated or the sub finder is not operational.), you or

someone in your family should contact Mr. Martinez at 794-4140 or 280-9018. If

there is no answer, please leave a detailed message including your name, position,

and the date and times (what part of the day) for which the substitute is needed.

FACULTY/STAFF ABSENCE POLICY STATE SICK LEAVE A state minimum sick leave program consisting of five days per year sick leave, with no limit on accumulation and no restrictions on transfer among districts, shall be provided for the district’s professional employees, defined as personnel employed in positions classified in pay grade 4 and above of the Texas State Public Education

Your sub folder should be easily found in your room and should include these items:

Provided by teacher/staff- roll sheets for days absent, emergency lesson plans for one or two days, a copy of your schedule # information about discipline or other procedures used in your classes, explanation of any extra duties for which you are responsible, the name and room number of another faculty/staff member to contact for assistance, and any other information that will be beneficial to your sub.

Provided by office when subs check in- a copy of your schedule (classroom teachers only), instructions for checking attendance, and an ATEMS map.

Compensation Plan. All full-time professional employees shall be included irrespective of the source of funds from which the salaries are paid. Education Code 13.904(a); 16.056(d); 19 TAC 105.251; 19 TAC 121.1. The Board shall ensure that sick leave is used only for: 1. Illness of the employee. 2. Illness of a member of the employee’s immediate family. 3. Family emergency. 4. Death in the employee’s immediate family. ELIGIBILITY Personnel shall be charged sick leave as used even if a substitute is not employed. 19 TAC 105.253(a) For an illness of a member of the employee’s immediate family for which the employee requests leave of more than three consecutive work days, a certification of the family member’s illness shall be required from a doctor who is duly registered and licensed under the Medical Practice Act of Texas, a licensed doctor of dentistry, a licensed podiatrist. Members of the Christian Science Church may have their illness attested to by a Christian Science practitioner. 19 TAC 105.253(b) (2) IMMEDIATE FAMILY – DEFINED For state sick leave purposes, the term “immediate family” includes the following: 1. Husband. 2. Wife. 3. Son, son-in-law, stepson. 4. Daughter, daughter-in-law, stepdaughter. 5. Father, father-in-law, stepfather. 6. Mother, mother-in-law, stepmother. 7. Brother, brother-in-law, stepbrother. 8. Sister, sister-in-law, stepsister. 9. Grandparents. 10. Grandchildren. 11. Any person who may be residing in the covered employee’s household at the

time of illness or death. 19 TAC 105.253(c) Approved leave for death in the immediate family shall be limited to not more than five workdays for each occurrence, subject to the approval of the District. 19 TAC 105.253(d) FAMILY EMERGENCY DEFINED The term “family emergency” shall be limited to natural disasters and life-threatening situations involving the covered employee or a member of the employee’s immediate family. 19 TAC 105.253(e) In no instance may sick leave under this program be approved for more days than have been accumulated in prior years plus those that will be earned during the employment period in the current school year. Should the recipient of advanced sick leave terminate employment in the District prior to accumulating the amount of

advanced sick leave, the District may claim for state reimbursement purposes only the amount of leave actually earned. 19 TAC 105.253(f) ACCUMULATION Personnel employed less than 100% of the day shall earn sick leave at the rate of one-half day for each eighteen days of employment. Not more than five days shall be earned in any one school year. Personnel employed less than 100% of the day, but at least 50% of the day, shall earn sick leave at the rate of one-half day for each thirty-six days of employment. Not more than two and one-half days shall be earned in any one school year. 19 TAC 105.254 LOCAL SICK LEAVE – POLICY STATEMENT The Board of Education recognizes the importance of an equitable and inclusive leave policy for the physical and mental health, and the emotional stability and security of its employees; for the maintenance of good morale; and for the encouragement of professional growth and development. All approved paid leaves shall preserve the right of tenure, retirement, accumulated leave with pay, salary increments, and other benefits provided by law for those eligible employees who return from leave within the agreed time. Two separate policies and systems of record keeping shall be kept by the Abilene Independent School District to account for credit and utilization of leaves as allowed under the State Minimum Foundation Sick Leave Program and as allowed under the local policy. Utilization of State allowances shall be the first applied. SICK LEAVE DEFINED Local sick leave may be used for: 1. PERSONAL ILLNESS

For the purpose of this policy, illnesses caused or contributed to by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, for all job related purposes, shall be treated the same as illnesses caused or contributed to by other medical conditions, under any health or disability insurance or sick leave plan available in connection with employment.

2. DEATH OR ILLNESS IN THE EMPLOYEE’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY

For the purpose of this policy, immediate family is defined as husband, wife, child, father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, cousin, niece, nephew, grandchild, grandparent, and any other person living in the employee’s household.

Employees on unpaid leave of absence shall neither lose accumulated sick leave nor earn additional sick leave. The District will neither accept nor transfer accumulated local sick leave to or from another school district.

ACCUMULATION There will be no limit on the number of local sick leave days that may be accumulated by AISD employees. All employees shall earn sick leave at the rate of one workday (number of hours worked per day) for each eighteen (18) days of employment. Not more than twelve (12) days of combined state and local sick leave shall be earned in any employment year. State sick leave days shall be used first. Sick leave will be granted at the beginning of employment or annually on September 1. PERSONAL LEAVE EMPLOYEES WILL BE ALLOWED FIVE (5) days each semester for personal reasons. These days will be charged to the accumulated state leave; however, if the state leave has already been exhausted, then these absences will result in full salary deduction. The employee is not required to state any specific reasons for his/her absence under the provision of this policy. However, prior written notice must be given to the immediate supervising administrator. Employees will not be allowed to take personal leave during those employment days immediately preceding or following official school holidays, on in-service days, or other employment days if the supervisor determines that the employee’s absence would substantially interrupt the regular functions of school district operation. Exceptions may be made to this provision in rare circumstances of an emergency nature with approval of the employee’s immediate supervising administrator. JURY DUTY Leave for jury duty shall be as follows: 1. Employees of the District are to be encouraged to serve as jurors when

selected other than those exempt by law. (Article 2135, Section 17 of the Revised Civil Statutes.)

2. There shall be no deduction in the pay of employees serving on jury duty. 3. The principal of the school must be notified by the employee as soon as the

notice for jury service is received in order to secure a capable substitute. 4. If a capable substitute cannot be secured for an employee called to serve on

the jury, the principal should feel free, with the mutual consent of the employee, to request that the employee call the court and ask to be exempt from serving.

5. The employee shall be expected to return to assigned duties promptly when excused from jury service whether such excuse is temporary or final.

CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES The Director is responsible for all custodial needs on campus. Mr. Martinez should be contacted when you are in need of custodial services. Please encourage our students to do their part in having a well maintained building and neat and clean campus. Any needed repairs, such as cracked windows, loose door handles, or changes in equipment, such as shelving, should be reported to Mr. Martinez so the work can be completed before the situation becomes a serious problem. The best method for requesting custodial or maintenance services is to send an email to john.martinez@abileneisd.org and he will in turn forward it to the proper maintenance people through AISD or through Scott Cooper and TSTC.

ATEMS INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS DELAYED OPENING OF SCHOOL When early morning weather conditions make it necessary to delay the beginning of the school day, schools shall start at 10:30 a.m. Refer to the bell schedule for the late start time. When the schools will not start until 10:30 a.m., an announcement will be made to the public by 6:00 a.m. of the particular day in question through the radio and television stations. The announcements shall state that the school will not start until 10:30 a.m., and that bus schedules shall be one and one-half to two hours later than the regular time. Students shall be prepared to board the bus from one and one-half to two hours later than the regular time. All administrative personnel, support staff, teachers, secretaries, aides, and custodians shall report to work at the regular time, if possible. Cafeterias shall be open at 8:00 a.m. and breakfast shall be served before the start of school. CANCELLATION OF THE SCHOOL DAY When early morning weather conditions make it necessary to cancel the normal school day, an announcement will be made to the public by 6:00 a.m. of the particular day in question through the radio and television stations. On days when cancellation is necessary, only building principals and head custodians are required to report at the campus level. Mr. Martinez will active the phone tree to inform all staff members at ATEMS. MEDIA NOTIFICATION The Transportation Director shall call the Superintendent or designee by 5:45 a.m. to notify him/her of the weather and road conditions in the District. The Superintendent or designee shall notify the news media by 6:00 a.m. regarding the

final decision to have school as normal, delay the opening of the school day or cancel school for the entire day. The following media shall be notified of the decision. Please Note: Local television and radio stations will announce any changes to the regular school day due to inclement weather beginning by 6:00 a.m. Please listen for those changes during bad weather. Teachers should report to school as close to 8:00 a.m. as possible if school is to begin late. If we are using an abbreviated schedule, report to each of your classes as scheduled and remain there the entire period, even if you have no students report to you at the beginning of the period.

PARKING AND VEHICLE PERMITS Faculty member parking spaces will be located in the front of the TSTC campus parking lot. Currently, we will not be issuing parking permits to staff members. TSTC has requested that ATEMS staff refrain from parking immediately behind or beside the TSTC campus.

KEYS AND SECURITY

Keys are checked out by Mr. Scott Cooper, TSTC Maintenance Supervisor. Under no condition should you entrust your keys to a student or leave your keys laying somewhere that they might be stolen. This is an important security matter.

FACULTY WELFARE Faculty Welfare Guidelines: 1. Flowers or a plant will be sent to a staff member or a member of their

immediate family who is in the hospital. 2. Flowers or a plant will be sent to a staff member if their spouse, parent or

child dies. 3. Flowers or a plant will be sent to the family of a staff member if a staff

member dies. 4. A sympathy card will be mailed to a staff member in case of the death of a

mother-in-law, father-in-law, or other relative. 5. Any other assistance, including the serving of meals, will be extended to a

staff member in case of an emergency.

6. A congratulatory card will be sent to staff members on special joyous occasions such as weddings, graduations, birth of a child or grandchild, etc., when such information is available.

7. To maintain the Faculty Welfare Fund each faculty member is encouraged to

contribute $20.00 and each part-time faculty member is encouraged to contribute $10.00. Give your contribution to Mrs. Lisa Goetz, our secretary.

8. Please report special events to the principal’s office.

HOMEWORK POLICY AND GUIDELINES

Homework is an integral part of the instructional program and should be given as much consideration as other learning tasks. Homework assignments should be for one of the following purposes: 1. PREPARATION HOMEWORK (getting ready before) helps students inform

themselves about the next day’s lesson. It must be work that students have the skills to do.

2. PRACTICE HOMEWORK (doing again after) provides students with the needed

review and reinforcement about material presented in a previous lesson. 3. EXTENSION HOMEWORK (going beyond) guides students so they expand on

concepts that were taught in class or complete a class assignment. 4. CREATIVE HOMEWORK (putting together) includes analysis, synthesis and

evaluation. This type of homework is inventive and resourceful. Students come up with their own ideas related to a class topic and then share those with the class.

The length of time required to complete homework assignments should be in direct relation to what purpose it serves; keep in mind that students may have homework in five other classes. Although some differences will exist in how individual assignments are assessed and how much the homework will contribute to a student’s grade, the following guidelines should provide a basic framework for making these decisions: 1. Not all assignments must be graded. 2. Not all checking has to be done by the teacher. 3. Any assignment worth doing is worth some type of feedback to the student. 4. Checking the accuracy and quality of the work is a must. 5. Homework should not be used as a means for inflating grades. Instead, it should

be quality assignments that accurately reflect what the students know about the subject. When the homework is appropriately evaluated, it must justifiably contribute to grades.

The ultimate purpose of a homework assignment should be to serve the educational needs of the students.

GRADING POLICY

GRADES 9 – 12 Numerical scores shall be used for State Board approved

courses.

PERMANENT RECORD Numerical scores shall be used on all academic

achievement records. Numerical scores shall be used in

determining course credit and maintenance of a grade of 70

for participation in extracurricular and other activities.

GRADE CONVERSION 90 – 100 = A

SCALE 80 – 89 = B

70 – 79 = C

69 – Below = actual numerical grade earned.

SIX-WEEK REPORTS A computer generated grade report will be mailed to the

home of each student at the conclusion of each six-week

grading period. Teachers must transfer student grades from

ECHO to FrontRunner in order to generate six-week

grades.

THREE-WEEK REPORTS The District shall provide notice of progress to the parent or

guardian of a student whose grade average in any class is

lower than 74 or whose grade average is deemed borderline

by the District. Teachers must transfer student grades from

ECHO to FrontRunner in order to generate three-week

progress reports.

The District shall make such information available to

sponsors of extracurricular activities in which the student

participates. At the end of the six-week period if the grade

is not brought up to 70 or above the student will be

suspended from extracurricular activities.

DATABASE FOR GRADES Grades recorded in Frontrunner will serve as the official

basis for determining grades for each of the three six-week

reporting periods of the two semester reporting periods.

A minimum of one grade per week for each six-week

reporting period will be recorded in the teacher on-line

grade book.

The teacher will provide appropriate documentation as

required by the administration for grades recorded in the

on-line grade book.

Grades recorded in ECHO and Frontrunner and appropriate

documentation will be used in conferring with students and

parents.

The ECHO program will be utilized to breakout all areas of

grading so students, parents and teachers can better create

educational goals for each student.

COMPUTING AVERAGE Six-week grades will be determined by averaging all daily

and special work done by the student, including special

reports, themes, laboratory work, maps, tests, etc.

The major grades shall include tests, labs, projects, essays,

etc. and daily grades are defined as homework, quizzes,

class work, etc. Each high school department will

determine how grades will be averaged to compute a

student’s total six-week grade. The Principal and the

Executive Director of Secondary Education shall approve

all department plans for computing six-weeks averages

prior to school handbook publication or distribution to

students.

AP AND PRE-AP Beginning with the graduating class of 2006 all AP courses

will be awarded ten bonus points for a semester grade of 80

or above. Beginning with the graduating class of 2007 the

minimum grade to receive bonus points will be lowered to

70. The graduating class of 2007 will be awarded ten

bonus points for AP classes and five bonus points for pre-

AP classes.

Currently all honors credit classes in the core areas of

English, science, math and social studies (AP and pre-AP)

receive the same number of bonus points.

AP EXAMS In order to encourage students to take the Advanced

Placement Exams, students may be exempt from final

exams for the second semester provided all of the following

criteria are met:

The student must register and take the National Advanced Placement Exam in the

subject area of the appropriate Advanced Placement class or classes.

The student must have three (3) or fewer absences as reported by the official

attendance count from the school attendance office.

The student must be passing the Advanced Placement class in which he/she

desires an exemption.

Note: Students will have the option of taking final exams

in Advanced Placement classes even if they qualify for

exemptions.

SUSPENSION FROM Full credit is given for any work completed while on

SCHOOL suspension

TRUANCY Students absent from school without permission of

parent(s) or guardian(s), or absent from class without the

principal’s permission shall be considered truant and shall

be subject to disciplinary action.

A student determined truant from school will make up the

time missed in an alternative educational setting by

attending Saturday School. Work will be accepted with the

highest grade for satisfactory makeup after the truancy

being a 70.

REASSIGNMENT CENTER Full credit is given for any work completed at the

reassignment center.

RETAKING FAILED

ASSIGNMENTS Students who fail an assignment or test will be given an

opportunity to redo the work with a maximum grade of 70

allowed. It is the responsibility of the student to make

arrangements with the teacher to redo assignments or retake

tests. Final exams and long term projects such as research

papers are exempt from this requirement. The student will

have five (5) school days after receiving the failing grade to

complete the retake of the assignment or test. Extenuating

circumstances shall be addressed on an individual basis.

Clarification: If a student makes 50 on an assignment or

test and is re-assessed and makes an 80, the student will

receive a 70. If a student fails the reassessment, the student

will receive the higher of the two grades made.

Note: A student may be given a replacement

assignment/test when retaking or redoing failed

assignments/tests at the discretion of the individual teacher.

NO CREDIT Assign the student the grade earned in class. All changes

will be made by the registrar.

MAKE-UP WORK For each class absence, a student is allowed two class

periods to complete missed assignments for full credit.

LATE WORK Late assignments will be accepted one class period after an

assignment is due for a maximum grade of 70. Extenuating

circumstances shall be addressed by each individual

teacher.

Clarification: A student turns in an assignment late and

scores an 80, the grade to be recorded is a 70. If a student

makes a 60, then a 60 is recorded.

Exception: Departments may choose to drop non-test

grades in lieu of accepting late work each six week period.

GRADING, FAILURES, AND RECOVERY

Students are expected to maintain at least a 70 grade point average in every class.

Students that do not maintain this average during a six week grading period will be

expected to conference with their teachers to formalize a plan of action in order achieve a

passing grade. Teachers are expected to assign mandatory tutorials to a student that

scores lower than a 50 on any given assignment or has below a 70 grade point average for

the six weeks. Teachers are also expected to notify parents when a student scores lower

than a 50 on any given assignment. Notification of parents can be through telephone

call, email contact, or personal visits. Documentation of all parent contact or attempted

contact should be kept on file and must be turned in every six weeks to Mrs. Tindall.

Students are expected to comply with school policy and attend any mandatory tutorial

sessions assigned by teachers. Failure to do so will result in school disciplinary action

being taken. Disciplinary action may range from detention, ISS, RAC, or Saturday

School.

Students who fail a six weeks are expected to recover the six week grade. In recovering a

grade, a student can make no higher than a 70 for the six weeks that a student failed.

Teachers are expected to place the student in mandatory tutorials in order to recover the

failing six week grade. Teachers have an option of assigning a student to the Plato

Learning System or assign work that a student needs to recover. A student should not be

expected to recover the entire six weeks; only those assignments that caused them to fail.

STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO HELP A STUDENT RECOVER:

1. Teacher must assign student to mandatory tutorials using the Tutorial Form

2. The student must return Mandatory Tutorial form with parent signature.

3. Teacher provides assignments or Plato Learning work in order to recover

identifiable objective deficiencies.

4. Student should spend appropriate time in tutorials making up missing

assignments.

5. Once the work has been completed, the student’s grade will be adjusted to a 70.

6. A Grade Change Form should be signed and turned in to Mrs. Goetz.

Should a student not return a Mandatory Tutorial Form, the teacher should provide at

least one more opportunity to return the form. The teacher should make an effort to

notify parents that the form is being sent home. If the form is not returned within three

days, the teacher should fill out a Discipline Referral Document and send it to Mr.

Martinez’ office. Mr. Martinez will visit with the student, make an attempt to call home

and warn the student that further disciplinary action will be taken if the form is not signed

and returned or the student fails to show for mandatory tutorials. Keep in mind; while a

student is working towards recovering a six weeks grade, we want to be mindful that they

continue to pass the current six weeks, as well.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Unless credit is awarded by the attendance committee or regained in accordance with

District policy, a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in

attendance for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. (FDD (LEGAL)

APPEAL

If a student is denied credit for a class by an attendance committee, the student may

appeal the decision to the Board.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES

For purposes of reviewing student absences, extenuating circumstances include, but are

not limited to, the following:

1. An Excused Absence – Any student may be excused for temporary absences

resulting from personal sickness, sickness or death in the family, quarantine,

weather or road conditions making travel dangerous, or any other unusual cause

acceptable to the Superintendent, or to the teacher or principal of the school in

which the student is enrolled. The reason for an excused absence must be stated

in writing and signed by the parent or other person standing in parental relation to

the student. The District may investigate any case in which an excused absence is

requested.

2. Days of Suspension – If a student is suspended, the absences shall be considered

as excused absences if the student satisfactorily completes the assignments for the

period of suspension within a reasonable time determined by the District. The

District may impose a grade adjustment on work made up by a student who has

been suspended.

Extenuating circumstances shall include personal illness, death in the immediate family,

medical care, or other causes deemed appropriate by the principal or attendance

committee in reference to TEC 25.087.

RELIGIOUS HOLY DAYS

The District shall excuse students from attending school for the purpose of observing

religious holy days when it is a tenet of their faith that they must be absent from school

during such time and if, before the absence, the parent, guardian, or person having

custody or control of the student submits a written request, for the excused absence. The

District shall excuse the student for days on which the religious holy days are observed

and for days on which the student must travel to and from the site where the holy days

will be observed. Excused days for travel shall be limited to not more than one day for

travel to and one day for travel from the site where the student will observe the holy days.

A student whose absence is excused for religious holy days shall not be penalized for the

absence and shall be counted as having attended for purposes of calculating the average

daily attendance in the District. Students excused under this provision shall be allowed a

reasonable time to make up schoolwork missed on those days. If the student fails to

satisfactorily complete the work missed, The District may respond appropriately. If the

student satisfactorily completes the work, the days of absence shall be counted as days of

compulsory attendance.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students who are participating in an extracurricular activity approved by the Board and

under the direction of a professional staff member, in accordance with the limits

established in 19 TAC 97.113, shall not be counted absent from school.

ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE HEARING

The attendance committee shall hear all cases where a student’s attendance falls below 80

days and a petition by the student or his parents, guardian, or other person having lawful

control under a court order has been filed and may review other cases at local option.

The hearing may be a review of student attendance records and other appropriate

documents; an oral presentation before the committee with the student, parent, or other

representatives; or another process established in local District policy.

MAKEUP WORK

Students are expected to make up assignments or tests after absences. Teachers shall

inform their students of the time allotted for completing makeup work after an absence;

however, the student shall be responsible for finding out about the assignments and

making up the work within the allotted time.

NOTICE

Students who have been notified that they will not receive credit because of excessive

absences shall remain in class. Students who create a disturbance or become

uncooperative shall be subject to disciplinary action.

ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT FOR MAKEUP

A student absent from school may make up the time missed by placement in an

alternative educational setting; either after school detention hall, school on Saturday, or

summer school as determined by the school administrator.

NOTIFICATION

Students and parents will be notified at appropriate intervals concerning absences and

possible loss of credit.

ATTENDANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE

The school attendance review committee shall be composed of the principal/designee, the

counselor, the student’s teacher(s) and the nurse.

STUDENT ID’S

Student Photo Identification Cards are required to be worn by all students in the building

and on campus at all time. Students will be charged $5 for a replacement ID. If students

are found to be without their Student ID, the student will be sent to the Mrs. Wilson, Mr.

Martinez, or Mrs. Tindall to secure a temporary ID at a cost of $1. Please check student

ID’s during your first period classes every day.

ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING SCAN SHEETS

It is State Law for you to maintain Attendance Records for each class period of the

school day. Teachers who use scan sheets for Attendance must maintain an attendance

record within their grade book, as well as on the scan sheet so that a backup record will

be available.

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In order for the forms to be read accurately, they must be kept in good shape,

free from staples, holes, tears, folds, and wrinkles. You are to pick up your

scan sheets before school each day in the Attendance Office. Check your

attendance sheets to be sure that they have been filed correctly. All

attendance records should be signed and turned in to the Attendance Office at

the end of each six weeks.

2. All markings on the attendance record must be completed with a #2 pencil

only.

3. If a student is marked absent by mistake, correct the scan sheet by erasing the

absence. If the scan sheet has already been picked up from your class, call the

attendance office and ask them to make the proper change. If you receive an

“Absence Correction Form” from the Attendance Office, please make the

appropriate change promptly and discard the notice.

4. Do not keep your record of tardies on the scan sheet.

5. Any student that enters during the six week period needs to be added at the

bottom of the scan sheet in pencil. Be sure to list the student’s full name,

grade, and ID#.

6. At the end of the six week reporting period, each teacher will sign the

Attendance Record in the space provided, signing in black ink.

7. SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES: Students approved to participate in

school related or school sanctioned activities shall not be counted absent from

school.

8. LOSS OF CREDIT: Students in grades 9-12 who are not in attendance for at

least 90% of the semester may not be given credit for a course or courses.

9. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES: Students who are in danger of losing credit

because of excessive absences shall be notified in accordance with

administrative regulations. These regulations shall ensure that parents are also

notified.

10. REINSTATEMENT PERMIT: Students whose parents do not contact the

Attendance Office on the day of an absence are considered truant. These

students must obtain a reinstatement permit from Mrs. Goetz by bringing a

written statement signed by a parent or guardian for an absence from school.

Please do not allow a student to enter your classroom without this

reinstatement permit. Please send them back Mrs. Goetz, if necessary.

11. ENTERING OR LEAVING SCHOOL: If it becomes necessary for a

student to leave school during the day, he or she must secure a permit from

Mrs. Goetz prior to leaving campus. The student is to check in with Mrs.

Goetz before returning to class. Teachers may not give students permission

to leave campus!

ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING ONLINE

It is State Law for you to maintain attendance records in Foghorn, the online attendance

program, for each and every day. This is your official record of attendance!

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Attendance must be done the first 5 minutes of each period.

2. Attendance must be entered online for each class period. Mark a student P-

present, A-absent, or T-tardy. Remember to click “save” after entering your

attendance.

3. Class period attendance can be edited at any time during the current class period.

Submissions after the editing time has closed will not be accepted by the server.

Remember to click “save” after entering your corrections.

4. Hard Copies: Hard copies will be needed when using “Subs” or correcting

errors in your attendance for that daily attendance period.

5. SUBS: Teachers must leave instructions to inform the sub to turn in the hard

copies for each class period. The teacher is responsible for their classroom

attendance when the sub has failed to turn in their hard copies for that day. The

teacher must check with the Mrs. Goetz to see that their hard copies were turned

in. If the hard copies were not received Mrs. Goetz, the teacher must print out

the hard copies and submit them by the next day. Remember, you are responsible

for your attendance at all times.

6. SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES: Students approved to participate in

school related or school sanctioned activities will be blocked in the Foghorn

program. Students whose parents have communicated with Mrs. Goetz about

illness or medical appointments will be blocked.

7. LOSS OF CREDIT: Students in grades 9-12 who are not in attendance for at

least 90% of the semester may not be given credit for a course or courses.

8. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES: Students who are in danger of losing credit because

of excessive absences shall be notified in accordance with administrative

regulations. These regulations shall ensure that parents are also notified.

9. REINSTATEMENT PERMIT: Students whose parents do not contact the

Attendance Office on the day of an absence are considered truant. These students

must obtain a reinstatement permit from Mrs. Goetz by bringing a written

statement signed by a parent or guardian for an absence from school.

10. ENTERING OR LEAVING SCHOOL: If it becomes necessary for a student to

leave school during the day, he or she must secure a permit from Mrs. Goetz

prior to leaving campus. The student must check in with Mrs. Goetz before

returning to class. Teachers may not give students permission to leave

campus!

EXCUSED LISTS

Sponsors of contests, UIL Academic events, field trips, etc. will provide a list of

students to be excused from class. The names should be in alphabetical order and

should include student classification, time, and date(s) of dismissal and destination.

This list of students will be sent by e-mail in an attachment on Wednesday, one week

prior to the event.

PERMITS TO LEAVE SCHOOL

In order for a student to leave campus, he or she must have a permit from Mrs. Goetz.

The permit is signed and dated by Mrs. Goetz upon the student’s return to school. The

permit serves as the permit to re-enter the classes missed. As in the case of permits to

enter class, each teacher should sign the permit with the last teacher to sign returning the

permit to Mrs. Goetz. Do not send students on errands without having them check

out through the campus office.

WITHDRAWAL OF STUDENTS

Do not withdraw a student from your class until you have received a withdrawal form

from the office. If the student is attending class all day, he or she will follow the usual

class schedule and present the withdrawal form to each teacher to sign. If the student’s

record is not clear, indicate the deficiency in the space provided. If a student is unable to

attend classes on the day of withdrawal, he or she will follow the above procedure, but

will go to each teacher at the time of withdrawal. Textbooks will be returned to the

front office.

STUDENT VISITORS

Student visitors are not allowed in our classes unless they have special permission from

the principal. Permission will not be granted except when very unusual circumstances

are involved.