Parents have 3 days to excuse kids with new Sarasota Schools policy

The Sarasota County School Board voted to approve an attendance policy on Jan. 21 that specifies a three-day window for parents to send in an attendance note following an excused absence.

The new policy also more clearly defines what counts as excused and unexcused absences, replacing the more general language of the previous policy.

Approval of the policy passed through a vote of 3-2, with board members Liz Barker and Tom Edwards in dissent.

Barker said the new policy “absolutely is an improvement upon our previous policy,” and that it did a good job of standardizing requirements, but said it did not adequately account for parental rights in determining excused and unexcused absences. 

She said this left teachers vulnerable to those who might not support their decisions.

“Given the situation that we are in, which I don't believe is a normal situation to be in, I can't support this very normal policy that would work great maybe 10 years ago. But right now teachers do not believe that we have their backs,” she said. 

Edwards complimented the work that went into the policy, calling it a step in the right direction in terms of clarity and uniformity, while stating he would not be supporting it. 

Edwards had stated during a Dec. 16 meeting, “Regardless of all the wonderful talk… I can't support it based upon the fact that my colleagues keep bringing up the SEE Alliance, which has nothing to do with academic excellence and making sure that kids are in school for the right reasons.”

The SEE Alliance organization has been involved in mobilizing speakers, many of which are students, who have opposed policies supported by the board's conservative majority. 

“I 100% support teachers,” said board member Robyn Marinelli, stating she wanted teachers to have autonomy as long as they follow legislation and the district’s expectations. “This even makes it more refined because the more we can make it to where there’s no question, the better off everybody is: parents, students and any board member that is up here.”

Board member Karen Rose, who supported the policy, said she was “compelled to be very honest” with her observations, referencing student speakers in the board room. 

“I also know that the attendance policy is being pushed not in the name of parental rights, it's being pushed in the name of students being lured to the school board room and out of academia, and I am going to say it like I see it,” she said.

Board Chair Bridget Ziegler also voiced support. 

“Obviously, I disagree with the parental rights component,” she said. “I think that certainly parents have that right, but we, the board, also has the responsibility of trying to navigate the best situation to support academic excellence.”