Weymouth School Committee Discusses New High School Attendance Policy
Proposed "buy back" option would allow students to earn back unexcused absences
WEYMOUTH - April 10 - The Weymouth School Committee is considering a new attendance policy that would allow high school students to "buy back" one unexcused absence per term by meeting specific criteria. The policy, which has been piloted at Weymouth High School this academic year, aims to help students avoid attendance failures and stay engaged in school.
During the April 10 meeting, Weymouth High School Principal Karen Monahan and Class of 2026 Dean of Students Karen Bonner presented the proposed policy as part of the annual student handbook review.
"We're trying to find ways to get students back into the building, re-engage," Monahan explains. "And if we see that we have some good results, then we want to quantify it and put it into the handbook."
Under the current policy, students who accumulate five unexcused absences in a class during a term receive an attendance failure, with their grade automatically reduced to 59, regardless of their academic performance.
The proposed policy would allow students who reach their fifth unexcused absence to earn back one absence by meeting three criteria over five consecutive school days: maintaining 100% class attendance, showing positive classroom and school-wide behavior with zero conduct referrals, and completing all required classwork and homework.
Monahan reports that 51 students have successfully earned back absences during the pilot program.
"This doesn't solve our attendance issues," Monahan says. "But we're trying to find ways that we can help certain groups of people."
Several committee members expressed concerns about the policy, particularly that it had been implemented without formal committee approval.
"This is a very big thing to trial without going through the committee," says Vice Chair Rebecca Sherlock-Shangraw. "We do need to approve pilots."
Committee Chair Tracey Nardone voiced concerns about setting unrealistic expectations for students.
"My fear of negotiating attendance is that sometimes we're setting them up for failure both in the workplace and in college," Nardone says. "I just don't want to set this age group up for failure to what's going to happen in the future."
Committee member Dana Scott offered a different perspective, supporting the policy as reasonable and logical.
"I think for a student to attend five days in a row that's struggling that much to get to school, to get there five days in a row, to stay on top of their classwork... I think for all that stuff to work out for them to get that buy back and earn that buy back, I think the teachers appreciate it as well," Scott says.
Superintendent Melanie Curtin emphasized that the policy aims to address situations where students' behavior affects their grades, particularly in circumstances beyond their control.
"We're not trying to blow the lids off it and say, you know, come to school whenever you want," Curtin says. "But it is sometimes where things that are out of their control, they are penalized with a grade. So we try to avoid that whenever we can."
Committee members requested additional data before making a final decision, including information on how many students used multiple buybacks and whether the policy has improved overall attendance.
The committee will revisit the policy at its May 1 meeting for a second reading and potential approval.
Other items discussed at the meeting included:
• The committee unanimously approved June 20, 2025, as the last day of school, which will be a half day.
• Superintendent Curtin reported on several student achievements, including the Chapman Choral Ensemble receiving a gold rating at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association Festival and the high school robotics team making it to the New England Championships.
• The Budget Subcommittee reported that the town council approved a five-year contract for ELA curriculum.
• The Policy Subcommittee discussed edits to the public comment policy, which will be presented at the May 1 meeting for first reading.
• SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) held their second annual resource fair with more than 20 organizations participating.
• Chapman Middle School Principal Jennifer Dolan presented handbook changes including updates to policies on tardiness, food and drink, and the use of artificial intelligence.
The committee will meet again on May 1, when they will vote on the superintendent's goals and focus indicators, as well as continue discussion on the attendance policy.