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Catawba County Schools' new exam exemption policy includes tardies, grades

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 23, 2009

NEWTON - Not all Catawba County Schools' high school students who miss two days or less of school will be exempt from exams this fall.

Beginning in the 2009-10 school year, students' exam exemptions will be a sliding scale, based on their grades and absences.

The policy change was made at Catawba County Schools' board of education meeting Monday.

Timothy Markley, superintendent for Catawba County Schools, was the driving force behind the change in the policy.

Students with an A in a class will be allowed three absences, while students with a B will be allowed two. Students who have a C in a class will only be allowed one absence. Any student that has a D or an F in a class will not be exempt from that class exam.

Classes missed for school-sponsored events or administrator-approved college visits won't count against a student's attendance. Special exceptions can also be made, at a principal's discretion, for medical situations.

Markley thought the medical provision was important.

"There were some compelling medical excuses that warranted exemption in the past, but because our policy was so rigid, we couldn't exempt them," he said. "Now it will be up to the principals."

The revised policy also contains an additional provision, with two unexcused tardies equaling one absence. The tardies must be documented in NCWISE, the school's electronic student accounting system.

The previous policy stated only that students have a passing average in a class, and have no more than two class absences. It also stated there be no more than one office referral, and no in-school or out-of-school suspension.

The new policy says the student cannot be in-school or out-of-school suspension or Saturday detention for the semester in which the class is held.

Board member Sherry Butler said she was pleased to see tardies, in-school and out-of-school suspension were also included under this policy, and called the entire policy, "a step in the right direction."

If a student takes an AP exam in a class, they don't have to take an exam in the course.

All students in course that require end-of-course exams and vocational tests will still be required to take those exams.

Board member Steve Hilton said he appreciated Markley reviewing the policy a second time. Markley initially looked at eliminating exam exemptions, allowing only seniors to maintain exam exemption status. After speaking with principals and several students, however, Markley revised his policy.

In other board action, the board members conducted Markley's annual evaluation. Although Markley was approved by the board for a merit-based pay increase, he opted not to receive it, citing that the teachers were not receiving a raise, so he shouldn't, either. This is effective for the 2009-10 school year.

The board also approved Markley's request for a 0.5 percent pay decrease, to be in line with what the other employees of Catawba County Schools are receiving. Markley said the money was removed from his paycheck in May.