Tag: tardy policy

Attention all Poly students! This is a quick reminder that you must be in class before the tardy bell rings. Teachers, please remember to close your doors…

If you’ve been paying attention to the intercom for the past two weeks, then you’ve surely heard this or a similar announcement.
Constant announcements after the bell rings for passing period is just one aspect of Poly’s new tardy policy.

Having taken effect at the beginning of the school year, the policy intends to reduce the amount of tardies throughout campus. Tardiness has been a problem at Poly, with over 80,000 tardies just last year. This is the main reason the policy was created.

The policy consists of the usual two minute bell during which staff members encourage students to get to class. Once the final bell rings, teachers are expected to shut their doors and not let anyone else in. If you are unable to make it to class on time then you will need to find a staff member around campus who can give you a tardy pass.

If the policy is not followed, consequences can be expected. A student with three or more tardies is assigned lunch detention. If the amount of tardies goes up to six then the consequence will be after school detention.

The team in charge of creating and enforcing this new policy is the Safe and Civil Committee led by new Assistant Principal Shannon Young. According to Young, teachers presented the information that the amount of people coming into class late can become a distraction and disturb teaching.

The results are already apparent as the amount of tardies has been reduced by 33% over the same time period last year, according to Young. Students are visibly more hurried to get to class and areas which were previously known for loitering are now clear.
Periods 1 and 2 however, continue to be the periods with most tardies. Young is not discouraged by this information.

“We are hoping that as we continue to enforce and utilize our progressive discipline,” said Young, “we continue to see a reduction in periods 1 and 2.”

Teachers and students views on the other hand, differ. Students believe the policy could be more understanding.
“Instead of punitive repercussions, they could offer incentives as encouragement instead,” said MEDS Academy senior Kerah Hunter.

“They should be more lenient,” said Brooke Coleman, a junior in BEACH Academy. Coleman points out the diversity of students who attend Poly and who might live farther away, “The school doesn’t understand the struggles of getting to school on time.”

The unequal distribution of punishment among students, is one of the concerns of English teacher and Softball coach, Elizabeth Sanches. Sanches said there needed to be a balance between the consequences for a student who is a few minutes late compared to the one who is 40 minutes late.

“To punish them both in the same manner doesn’t seem fair,” said Sanches. Regardless, she believes that after the tardy mess of last year, the policy is necessary.

English teacher, Kerry Boyd, also agrees it is necessary. “Students have been more motivated to get to class on time, especially compared to last year,” said Boyd.

Poly’s new tardy policy will continue to be in effect throughout the school year. Administration hopes to successfully continue reducing the amount of tardies and create a balanced environment for teaching and learning.