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ALLASC20ST
Vol. 99 No. 47
Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 30, 1988
25 Cents
Lake-Lehman High
improves attendance by
63% under stricter policy
By SARA J. LUNDBERG
Managing Editor
Attendance at Lake-Lehman High
School has changed dramatically
since the implementation of a tough
new attendance policy at the begin-
ning of this school year, officials
there say. The attendance policy set
strict limits on the amount of un-
authorized absences a student can
have, and still gain credit for the
course.
For a full year course of 180 days
a student is allowed 16 unauthor-
ized absences; for a 90 day or one
semester class a student is allowed
8 unauthorized absences. Students
‘who do not comply with the atten-
dance policy will be faced with re-
peating required courses, and pos-
sibly delaying their graduation if
they miss more than the allotted
amount of unauthorized time.
Robert Roberts, the vice principal
of Lake-Lehman High School, said
that percentage comparisons for the
first two months of the new school
year indicate a significant improve-
ment in attendance. The absentee
rate on any given day at Lake-
Lehman in October of 1987 was
13%. For October of this school year
the absentee rate on any given day
had dropped to 8%. Comparisons
for the month of September in 1987
and 1988 show similar results.
“The new attendance policy has
turned attendance around dramati-
cally. I think everyone in the ad-
ministration realized if we didn’t do
something about the high rate of
absences we would be in trouble,”
said Roberts. :
Students interviewed had differ-
ent views about the attendance
policy. Denise Davis, who is the
senior class president at Lake-
Lehman, said the student body was
‘in an uproar’ after first learning of
the change, but lately people are
starting to adapt to the new require-
ments.
“Students thought it was unfair
See LAKE-LEHMAN, pg 3
Dallas says communication
is key to its policy's success
By CHARLOT M. DENMON
Staff Writer
In November, 1983, Dallas School
District approved the enforcement
of a compulsory attendance policy
in accordance with'the school laws
of Pennsylvania and the regulations
of the Department of Education.
The policy requires that every
child between the compulsory school
ages of eight years and 17 attend a
state-approved day school program.
The Dallas District's attendance
policy delegates authority for notify-
ing parents or guardians of their
failure to comply with the policy to
the student's principal.
The policy applies to children of
all school age but in past years,
most illegal absences occurred
within the senior high school cur-
riculum. Since the policy was put
into effect, it has proven to be suc-
cessful in decreasing the percent-
ages of absenteeism in the district,
according to Frank Galicki, princi-
pal of the senior high school.
“The percentage of absentees in
senior high has decreased greatly. I
give credit to the policy which has
been in effect for the past five years,”
Galicki said.
Joan Makowski, home and school
visitor for the district, said that
overall absenteeism in the high
school averaged about seven per-
cent and in the elementary and
junior high buildings about five
percent.
“This includes both excused and
unexcused absentees. We don't
break them down by excused and
unexcused and I doubt if other dis-
tricts do,” Makowski said.
Makowski credits the low absen-
tee percentage to the fact that calls
are made daily to the homes of stu-
dents who are absent.
“These calls and the fact that we
hold conferences with parents of
students with excessive absentee-
ism seems to be the key to our
success.” Makowski explained.
“The parents realize that we are
concerned with their students aca-|
demic achievement when we take!
the time to confer with them. The!
adminstrator, guidance counselor
and myself usually discuss all prob- |
lems with the parents.
“We continually aim at reducing
the percentage of absentees even if
it is only by one percent annually,”
Makowski concluded. :
General provisions of the policy
require that after written notice of
three days unexcused absence from
school, an official “first notice” of
unexcused absences notifies par-
ents that any further illegal absences
constitute a summary violation
under the Public School Code.
If a student is illegally absent
again, the parent will be charged
before a magistrate for violation of
the compulsory attendance law.
of absentees
"The percentage
in senior high
has decreased
dramatically."
Frank Galicki
Dallas Senior High School principal
Excused absences includeillness,
family emergencies, pre-arranged
doctorand dentist appointments and
authorized school activities. Unex-
cused absences include absence
from ‘school without parents con-
sent for reasons other than those
considered excusable, leaving school
during school hours without per-
mission and truancy.
A student who has been absent
must complete the work missed and
a truant student must complete work
missed and make up the time he or
she was truant. In the case of con-
tinued non-attendance and when
all other counseling fails, a hearing
will be held with the student and
parents and referrals made to proper
legal authorities until satisfactory
arrangements are made for the
student's fulfillment of attendance
requirements.
If mental or physical disability
prevents a student from attending
school, aqualified practitionermust
certify the student cannot attend
school.
Excessive unexcused absenceson
the part of students 17 or older
require that parents or guardians
be notified to appear before the prin-
cipal and others he deems appropri-
ate to seek a solution to the atten-
dance problem. Continued willfull,
unexcused absences constitute a
violation of school rules and may
result in a student not being pro-
moted, not graduating or losing the
right to attend school.
Compulsory attendance applies,
to all students with the exception of
those excused for homebound in-
struction, mental or physical dis-
ability, attendance at a state ap-
proved non-public school, or regu-
lar employment of children in com-
pliance with child labor laws.
Other regulations in the poolicy
include: No school or grade may be
dismissed before the regular hour
for dismissal except with the ap-
proval of the school superintendent;
no student shall be permitted to
leave school during the school hours
unless upon the personsal request
of the parent or guardian or when
participating in a school sponsored!
program with written permission of
parent or guardian.
See DALLAS, pg 3 |
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Dallas Borough workers Don Schaffer and Dan Parsons were hanging
Christmas decorations around town a few days ago, sprucing things up
in preparation for the holiday. Co-worker Don Chamberlain was down
below in a bucket loader guiding their way (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek)
Back Mountain residents are
being urged to attend the third public
meeting of the proposed Back Moun-
tain Citizens' Council, December 5,
at 7:00 p.m., at the Penn State
Wilkes-Barre Campus Science Cen-
ter auditorium.
The group plans to take official
form at the meeting with the adop-
tion of by-laws and the election of a
15 member board of directors and
officers. The proposed slate of offi-
cers is: President, Nancy Eckert;
Vice-President, Will Conyngham;
Secretary-Treasurer, Susan Davis.
Karen Miller, secretary of Penn-
sylvania Department of Community
Affairs, will be guest speaker. Miller
is a former municipal official and is
very interested in activities taking
place locally as a result of citizen
participation, according to Nancy
Eckert.
Secretary Miller is responsible for
the administration of over 20 state
and federal programs providing fi-
Excerpts of proposed
by-laws on page 5
nancial and technical help to local
governments and community or-
ganizations.
She is also responsible for man-
agement of six bureaus; Commu-
nity Planning, House and Develop-
ment, Human Resources, Local Gov-
Obituaries... 2
People... 10
We're Number 1 Real Estate...12
Jubilant Dallas Mountaineers were met by hundreds of fans on their arrival from Danville to the high school | Religion....... 10
Saturday after winning the Eastern Conference Class Il championship. The players lost no time in indicating 5 h | Ta a 9
that they were No. 1. Above, they surround Coach Ted Jackson and Jerry Ogurkis who hold the champion- PCRO0L ie Ta
ship trophy. From left are Barry Miller, Joe Piskorik, Jackson, Shawn Ruth, Sam Jayne (partially hidden), Sports... 11 i
Ogurkis, and Barry Miller (33, hidden). Story on page 11. (Lynn Sheehan Photo) J
Ne -
Citizens’ Council plans election of officers
ernment Services, Management
Services and Recreation & Conser-
vation; and five regional offices. She
serves as chairman of the Pennsyl-
vania Housing Finance Agency and
secretary of the Pennsylvania In-
dustrial Development Authority.
At the time of Ms. Miller's ap-
pointment to Governor Casey's
cabinet, she was serving her second
term as mayor of Reading, where
DAMA plans
rate increase
of $37 yearly
BY SARA J. LUNDBERG
Managing Editor
Customers of DAMA (Dallas Area
Municipal Authority) can expect a
rate increase for the newyear. Rates
are going up from the current rate of
$151 per year to $188 per year
starting January 1, 1989. DAMA
provides service to the Dallas Town-
ship, Dallas Borough, Kingston
Township areas, and includes the
Lehman Township Municipal Au-
thority and the Harveys Lake Mu-
nicipal Authority as customers.
The new rates are necessary
because of a government mandated
treatment plant improvement, ac-
cording to Thomas Bagley, who is
the manager of DAMA.
DAMA is required to update the
existing treatment plant which is
See DAMA, pg 3
™
Inside
Calendar... 14
__ Classified......12,18
Editorials......4