**Absences**School-aged children enrolled in the District must attend school in accordance with all applicable state laws and Board policies. The educational program offered by the District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation in order for students to achieve academic standards and consistent educational progress.****Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the District during the days and hours that school is in session.

The Board considers the following to be excused absences:

1. Illness 2. Recovery from an injury 3. Medical and dental appointments 4. Death in the immediate family 5. Observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday 6. Required court attendance 7. **Such other good cause as may be acceptable to the principal or permitted by lawAny absence that has not been excused for any of these reasons will be considered an unexcused absence.****In the event of an absence, parents/guardians must contact the school and inform the school of the reason for the student’s absence. The principal may require parents/guardians to provide additional documentation in support of their notice, including but not limited to doctor’s notes, court documents, obituaries, or other documents supporting the claimed reason for non-attendance.

*If parents/guardians wish for their child to be absent for a reason not listed above, the parent/guardian must provide a written explanation of the reason for such absence, including why the student will be absent and for how long the student will be absent. The principal will make a determination as to whether the stated reason for the student’s absence constitutes good cause and will notify the parents/guardians via telephone and writing of their decision. If the principal determines that good cause does not exist, the parents/guardians may request a conference with the principal to again explain the reasons for non-attendance. The principal may then reconsider their initial determination. However, at this juncture, the principal’s decision shall be final.Family Vacations/Educational OpportunitiesGenerally, family vacations during the school year are discouraged. The school principal or their  designee may, however, grant special approval of absence for family vacations, provided written approval is given three weeks prior to the trip. If approved by the principal, the principal will notify the student’s teacher, or teachers, two weeks before the trip. Although the classroom experience can not be replicated, parents/guardians and students should work with their teacher, or teachers, to recover any lost learning.

Truancy

Truancy is defined as any unexcused absence from class or school. Any absence that has not been excused for any of the reasons listed above will be considered an unexcused absence, which includes cumulative tardies from class or school. Ten half-days or five full days, or any equivalent combination thereof, of unexcused absence during a school year constitutes habitual truancy.

• A half-day absence is defined as a student missing more than two hours of instructional time and less than three and one-half hours of instructional time.
• **Any absence of more than three and one-half hours of instructional time shall be considered a full-day absence.****The principal or truant officer is hereby designated as the District employee responsible for overseeing truancy issues.Intervention Process to Address TruancyThe principal shall ensure that the administrative guidelines on attendance properly address the matter of truancy by including a process that identifies students who are habitually truant, as defined above.****When the principal or designee identifies a student who is habitually truant or who is in danger of becoming habitually truant, they shall commence an intervention with the student, the student’s parents/guardians, and other staff members as may be deemed necessary.****The intervention shall include, but is not limited to:**1. Investigation of the cause(s) of the student’s truant behavior;

2. Modification, when appropriate, of their educational the student’s program to meet particular needs that may be causing the truancy;
3. Development of a plan, involving the parents/guardians, designed to reduce the truancy; and
4. **Alternative disciplinary measures may be used in accordance with the District’s policies and administrative guidelines on student discipline.Parental/Guardian Involvement in Truancy InterventionWhen a student reaches habitual truancy status or is in danger of reaching habitual truancy status, the principal or designee will send the student’s parent/guardian a letter which includes:**1. A statement that the student has become or is in danger of becoming habitually truant;
5. A statement of the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to ensure that the student attends school; and
6. **A request for a meeting between the parents/guardians and the principal to discuss the student’s truancy and to develop a plan for reducing the student’s truancy.Developing and Coordinating Strategies for Truancy ReductionThe Board encourages the administration to seek truancy-prevention and truancy-reduction strategies along the recommendations listed below.**1. Coordinate truancy-prevention strategies based on the early identification of truancy, such as prompt notification of absences to parents/guardians.
7. Assist school staff to develop site attendance plans by providing development strategies, resources, and referral procedures.
8. Encourage and coordinate the adoption of attendance-incentive programs at school sites and in individual classrooms that reward and celebrate good attendance and significant improvements in attendance.
9. Utilize the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Framework for implementing a system of support for prevention and reduction of truancy.However, these guidelines shall be advisory only. The Superintendent is authorized to develop and utilize other means, guidelines, and programs aimed at preventing and reducing truancy.Parental/Guardian Notification of Truancy PolicyThe Superintendent shall also ensure that this policy is included in or referenced in the student handbook and is made available to parents/guardians annually at the beginning of each school year.Legal References:RSA 189:34, AppointmentRSA 189:35-a, Truancy DefinedRSA 193:1, Duty of Parent; Compulsory Attendance by PupilRSA 193:7 PenaltyRSA 193:8, Notice RequirementsRSA 193:16 Bylaws as to NonattendanceNH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 306.04 (a)(1), Attendance and AbsenteeismNH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 306.04 (c), Policy Relative to Attendance and AbsenteeismCategory: P1st Read: June 7, 20112nd Read: July 19, 2011Adoption: July 19, 20111st Read: September 3, 20242nd Read: September 17, 2024****Adoption: September 17, 2024

The Administrative Code of Virginia specifies that the responsibility for the purchase and replacement of school buses rests with the superintendent and school board. Shenandoah County Public Schools has developed the following criteria for replacement of school buses.

1. A school bus that has met any one of following three criteria is eligible for replacement:

1. is at least 15 years of age;
2. has accumulated 100,000 miles;
3. is in need of a one-time repair considered unjustified in terms of expected life after the repair, regardless of ageBuses retired under this program shall be disposed of in accordance with school board policy DN Disposal of Surplus Items.

2. Vehicles, other than school buses, that have met any one of these three criteria are eligible for replacement:1. is at least 15 years of age; 2. has accumulated 150,000 miles; 3. is in need of a one-time repair considered unjustified in terms of expected life after the repair, regardless of ageVehicles retired under this program shall be disposed of in accordance with school board policy DN Disposal of Surplus Items.

The Administrative Code of Virginia specifies that the responsibility for the purchase and replacement of school buses rests with the superintendent and school board. Shenandoah County Public Schools has developed the following criteria for replacement of school buses.

1. A school bus that has met any one of following three criteria is eligible for replacement:

1. 1. is at least 15 years of age;
   2. has accumulated 100,000 miles;
   3. is in need of a one-time repair considered unjustified in terms of expected life after the repair, regardless of age

Buses retired under this program shall be disposed of in accordance with school board policy DN Disposal of Surplus Items.

2. Vehicles, other than school buses, that have met any one of these three criteria are eligible for replacement:

1. 1. is at least 15 years of age;
   2. has accumulated 150,000 miles;
   3. is in need of a one-time repair considered unjustified in terms of expected life after the repair, regardless of age

Vehicles retired under this program shall be disposed of in accordance with school board policy DN Disposal of Surplus Items.

The legal basis for education is vested in the will of the people as expressed in the Constitution of New Hampshire, the statutes* pertaining to education, court interpretation of these laws, the powers implied in them, and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.In New Hampshire, School Districts are political subdivisions of the State and, as such, are considered municipal corporations.The Contoocook Valley School District is a cooperative school district, established and governed by its Articles of Agreement. The date of operating responsibility as provided in RSA 195:18 (III)(j) is July 1, 1968. The Articles of Agreement may be amended from time to time according to the provisions therein.The School District has adopted Official Ballot Voting and is subject to the requirements of RSA 40:13.Board policies are established by the Board, which serves as an agent of the District.Funds for school operating expenses are approved by a majority of qualified voters present and voting at the annual School District meeting, except that bond issues require approval by 60%.Statutory/Case Law References:New Hampshire Constitution, Pt. 2 Article 83Claremont School District vs. Governor, 138 NH 183 (1993)RSA 194:2, School Districts to be CorporationsRSA 195:6, Powers and Duties of Cooperative School DistrictsRSA 40:13, Use of Official BallotRSA 195:18 Procedure for Formation of Cooperative School District* The majority of state laws on education are in RSA Chapters 186 through 200H.1st Read: June 19, 20122nd Read: August 14, 2012Adopted: August 14, 2012

The legal basis for education is vested in the will of the people as expressed in the Constitution of New Hampshire, the statutes* pertaining to education, court interpretation of these laws, the powers implied in them, and the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education.In New Hampshire, School Districts are political subdivisions of the State and, as such, are considered municipal corporations.The Contoocook Valley School District is a cooperative school district, established and governed by its Articles of Agreement. The date of operating responsibility as provided in RSA 195:18 (III)(j) is July 1, 1968. The Articles of Agreement may be amended from time to time according to the provisions therein.The School District has adopted Official Ballot Voting and is subject to the requirements of RSA 40:13.Board policies are established by the Board, which serves as an agent of the District.Funds for school operating expenses are approved by a majority of qualified voters present and voting at the annual School District meeting, except that bond issues require approval by 60%.Statutory/Case Law References:New Hampshire Constitution, Pt. 2 Article 83Claremont School District vs. Governor, 138 NH 183 (1993)RSA 194:2, School Districts to be CorporationsRSA 195:6, Powers and Duties of Cooperative School DistrictsRSA 40:13, Use of Official BallotRSA 195:18 Procedure for Formation of Cooperative School District* The majority of state laws on education are in RSA Chapters 186 through 200H.1st Read: June 19, 20122nd Read: August 14, 2012Adopted: August 14, 2012