“Don’t Be Tardy to the Party”
By Maya Davis, Staff Writer
A new hall pass system began on Tuesday, September 6th, 2022. The goal is to reduce late arrivals to class while helping students manage their time and demonstrate responsibility.
RHS Assistant Principal Richard Smart has led the implementation of a new system of progressive interventions. “This whole system is about having a structure,” said Mr. Smart. He added that it is vital for students and teachers to have structure, and implementing the tardy table, helps to keep everyone on schedule and classes running smoothly.
Progressive discipline shows students it’s not okay to be late. And it also clearly lays out the consequences if they continue being late. The plan includes the institution of a closed-door policy, which means that classroom doors close when the bell rings. If students are late, they’re late. They now must report to the tardy table to get a pass.
These procedures accomplish a few goals:
- First, it reduces classroom interruptions for students who arrived on time and prepared.
- Second, it establishes clear, consistent expectations for students.
- Third, it keeps teachers from spending valuable instruction time reprimanding late students.
Staff members greet students and issue late passes when they arrive at the tardy table. The progressive consequences begin with the first two offenses when students receive a warning and return to class. Students who come late a third and fourth time serve 30-minute lunch detentions for each infraction. A fifth visit to the table earns 90-minute after-school detention. If a student continues to report late to class, they will be assigned an ISI (in-school suspension) admin referral.
Despite the supportive nature of the policy, some students are unhappy with the consequences of the new approach. Junior Alexis Goodman said, “I feel like [the tardy table] is a waste of time.” She feels that requiring students to go all the way to the atrium is a waste of class time and a loss of student learning time. She favors simply allowing students into class if they are late and marking them as tardy without requiring a pass.
According to the administration, the tardy system is all about support. Not just for students but teachers as well. Getting to class on time is essential for students to succeed. The administration team built two warnings into the plan to acknowledge that some reasons for the delay are legitimate. Some don’t hold up to scrutiny.
“What matters to me is that if a student needs help, they feel comfortable going to staff about it.”
MR. SMART
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