PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	May 6, 2006

BTF Supports Commissioner's Call for Attendance Standards

Calling student attendance "critical, fundamental and one of teachers' major concerns," BTF President Philip Rumore today voiced support for State Education Commissioner Mills' suggestion of "attendance targets" for students.

Citing the school district's most recent attendance report, Rumore also faulted the Superintendent and Board for laying-off all the school based attendance teachers.

"The BTF commends Commissioner Mills for tackling one of the most important and too often hidden aspects of student success - attendance. A student's chronic absence not only hurts that student but also the students in his or her class since the teacher's remediation of that previously absent student slows down the progress of the rest of the class," Rumore stated.

"Based upon recent data, student attendance in our high schools which is already poor, has decreased significantly."

Board of Education attendance report for 7th period, ending 3/31/06

		% ATT	% ATT
Rank	School	04-05	05-06	Change
1	Leonardo DaVinci	93.84%	93.91%	+.7%
2	Middle College	93.84%	93.40%	-.44%
3	Hutch-Tech	93.30%	90.72%	-2.6%
4	Emerson	92.36%	88.61%	-3.75%
5	McKinley	87.57%	84.91%	-2.66%
6	Bennett	82.43%	80.08%	-2.35%
7	Lafayette	83.77%	78.63%	-5.14%
8	East	81.13%	77.26%	-3.87%
9	Burgard	77.70%	77.02%	-.68%
10	South Park	79.00%	75.56%	-3.44%
11	Seneca	82.15%	74.50%	-7.66%
12	Grover Cleveland	72.12%	70.33%	-1.79%
13	Riverside	78.48%	67.03%	-11.45%

"The drastic drop in attendance this year and substantial loss in funding resulting from it can be laid on the Superintendent's and Board's desks. The Superintendent and Board cut all school based attendance teachers leaving only one or two in the district.

Our attendance teachers not only work with families and any problems they may have but also hold hearings and work with the courts when necessary.

In addition to attendance teachers, the cuts in School Counselors and School Social Workers, [who have loads of over 1500:1 when the State recommended ratio is 250:1], are also impacting on our students' attendance," Rumore concluded.

In anticipation of the Superintendent's blaming the BTF's and other unions' lack of agreement on a single carrier, Rumore stated, "Eventually, the Superintendent and Board are going to run out of excuses for the problems they have created. Where I come from, we say, 'The buck stops on my desk.' The District has no excuse for not keeping the attendance teachers working with the students. The District went to a single carrier so the resources are there.

"In addition, and for the 100th time, all the unions have agreed that we should go to a single carrier. The District, however, decided that it would impose one unilaterally rather than negotiate a single carrier, as it must. Incredibly, the Superintendent and Board laid-off only one City Hall 'exempt' administrator but have hired more. Where are their priorities?" Rumore concluded.

Enclosure (PDF)