“The question of whether to allow part-time students or not has taken probably more time than any other policy revision we have worked through,” Snowflake Unified School District Superintendent Hollis Merrell advised governing board members in backup material for a policy revision approved last week. The revision requires students to attend full time, though does allow home schooled students to attend music classes.
Merrell received attorneys’ opinions, talked to other superintendents in the state and visited with two assistant superintendents before the policy revision came to the board for approval.
“We have definitely given the issue plenty of thought, research and time,” according to the backup material.
Merrell said he felt that because discussion on this policy began in May, it was time to make a decision, so it was placed on the agenda for the Nov. 12 board meeting.
During the call to the public at a previous meeting, board members were asked about the district’s practices regarding home schooled students.
Merrell explained in backup material that exceptions with students were dealt with on an individual basis, but as this was reviewed more closely, administrators agreed that they needed to eliminate the option to allow students to attend part time, “and that we should only allow what the law requires, which is participation in ‘interscholastic activities’ or sports.”
Merrell summarized his recommendation in the backup material with two statements: “First, I believe it is my job as superintendent to encourage students to attend our schools. I cannot in good conscience recommend a policy that allows or encourages students to obtain the majority of their education elsewhere, and then take a class or two from us. Secondly, I have not found anybody in Arizona that has implemented a similar policy with any success.”
The superintendent recommended approval of a policy revision stating, “All students in the high school are required to be full time students according to ADE (Arizona Department of Education) minute and hour requirements…All students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade are required to be enrolled full time.
“High school students who are properly registered with the county as home schooled students may participate in music classes. These students may enroll in high school music classes as long as the classes have not met their class size limits. They must enroll in a minimum of two music classes.”
Merrell also noted in the backup material that “currently they have five students who are taking music classes at the high school as home schooled students. Four of the five take two or more classes (one takes three). The requirement to take two classes would not be a major change as that is what most students already do.”
“I’m concerned that we’re excluding some that might come and see what our school can do, and come and join us,” said board member Shea Flake. “I would hope that we would be innovative, and look at a way to extend to all our students.”
“We’ve talked about this for five months,” said Merrell, noting that his duty is to encourage people to come to the school. “I want to encourage the kids to come take advantage of the programs we have.”
Flake said he felt the policy didn’t allow people to come to the district and said to Merrell that inclusion of every student is “contradictory to your policy.”
“We’re focusing very much on the home schooled kids right now; to me there are 2,500 kids that this is going to affect just as much as the home schooled kids,” said Board President Cory Johnson.
“Why can’t we be a leader in this?” Flake asked.
“I’ve looked at it, I’ve talked to a few people, I’ve read,” said Johnson, noting that with all the study on this item he had more concerns about it. “I haven’t caught the vision.”
Flake did note that he only changed his mind on the policy in the past week.
Johnson talked about the collaboration between teachers and departments. “I’m concerned that these students are not going to take part in that cross collaboration,” he said.
There was a motion and a second on the floor to approve the changes to the existing policy as outlined by Merrell. Johnson called for a vote, which passed with board members Carole Owens, Carol Palmer and Johnson voting in favor of the measure and Flake opposing it.
This was the third item on the agenda, and followed several reports. As the final item was to be voted on, board member Charles Foote came in and apologized for being late, noting he had been in the Phoenix area for doctor appointments and had forgotten the meeting started at 5 p.m.
“I would still like to comment about that,” said Foote of the just approved policy revision. “I have done a lot of preparation.”
Foote said that he understood parliamentary procedure states that if someone who voted in favor of a motion would ask for a revote, he could say his piece and they could vote again. “I would really like to be able to tell you some research that I’ve done within the last month,” he said.
Neither Palmer nor Owens commented, but Johnson said that if it was legal, he would be willing to make the motion. Johnson went through the book on parliamentary procedure, but could not find the provision Foote referred to.
Merrell commented that they had five or six months to discuss this, and held work sessions and continued talk on it.
“I was willing to ask for it (a revote), and can’t see it, so I am going to make a motion to adjourn,” said Johnson.
The meeting closed without revisiting the issue.
