The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/130891
Varsity Softball 'The Great Gatsby' -Page 7 -Page 5 Volume CXIV Issue 15 May 17, 2013 Serving Red Bluff High School since 1901 TRUANCY TAKES ITS TOLL T he snooze button is being turned off and the alarm clock is being silenced as Red Bluff High School's seemingly high truancy number is revealed from a report sent off to the state from last year. 772 students were marked truant in total last year, this number being an unduplicated quantity. An unduplicated number means that a student's absence is counted once, rather than for every offense. With this being said, this year's Average Daily Attendance (ADA) percentage number is at a high of 96.9 percent. These numbers should be directly related; however, at this time, they are proving to be entirely different each other. For most this begs the simple question of why? According to Miguel Barriga, Associate Principal at RBHS, there is a truancy problem, but not an attendance problem. This stems from the fact that the truancy number can be based off of students only cutting one class period. They are marked as truant permanently when calculating the number. From Barriga's perspective, truancy is an issue in itself, and while it's great that the average daily attendance is so high, truancy needs to be taken care of. "If you're absent you should have a justifiable reason to excuse it," stated Barriga. While this number is not as high as it first suggested, being truant or absent plays a major role in Red Bluff High's funding and how much money the school receives per student. For this year, specifically, RBHS will acquire a total of 5,800 dollars for every student that attends each day of this school year. This equates to exactly 32.20 dollars per day. With the ADA percentage number as it stands at 96.9 percent, RBHS would only lose a total of 179.8 dollars. Although absences and truancies can slowly impact a school negatively, students suffer just as much. "Anytime a student misses instructional time it is a detriment to student learning. Additionally, students need to acquire the skills of being reliable as well as arriving prepared and on time in the work force," said John Schwabauer, next year's Dean of Students and Truancy Specialist. According to Schwabauer, the truancy number is much higher than what the school wants. Next year RBHS plans to work more closely with the SARB officer and the court sysytem for truancies that are much more serious. Many teachers have varying opinions on the subject matter and ways to avoid these costly truancies. "Once you have convinced a student that it is not a waste of time to be here, truancy becomes less of a problem," said Wes Hendricks, art teacher. Red Bluff High School will receive a total of 5,800 dollars for each student present every day this school year... ( Story by Marissa Chase ) 32.20 dollars per day student currently the school's Average Daily Attendance (ADA) percentage number is 96.9 percent. This means the school, as of right now, will only lose 179.8 dollars. AVID returns for the following school year Egan Meagher Sports Editor After a three year hiatus, the AVID program will be returning to Red Bluff High School. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is meant to get its students better prepared for college. AVID is geared towards "middle of the road students" according to Red Bluff High AVID director, Wendy Drury. It is meant for the students with the capabilities to do very well but doesn't necessarily have the support or the resources to become a top level student. RBHS first instituted AVID in 2002, Sports Physicals but due to budget cuts in 2006 the program was phased out. Next year's schedule will offer two periods of the AVID class to the freshmen class, after which they will further phase in the program by adding AVID courses to each of the classes. "Now we're starting with 2 Frosh sections and then as the years go on we will add classes to the next freshmen class so that in the next 4 years all the classes will offer an AVID section," said Drury. Since the decision to add AVID classes to next year's schedule came after most students have already chosen their classes the school will now have go back and make eighth grade students aware that the class is offered. Students that are planning to participate in school sports for the 2013-14 school year can get their physicals tomorrow, May 18 in the cafeteriat at RBHS. Students that have already had a physical at RBHS can arrive at 10 am if their last name begins with A-M; however, if students have not, their arrival team should be at 9:30. Students' names starting with N-Z should come at 10:30. "We're kind of back tracking right now since students have already chosen classes but we want them to apply for AVID and show them its available," said Drury. AVID offers basic prep for college and careers with the expectations that its students are taking rigorous courses and also offers support for student success. AVID promotes a strong curriculum in writing to strengthen students' writing skills. AVID also supports students by offering peer tutorial training. Students are trained in how to ask leading questions in order to tutor other students. AVID students also have training in organization and note taking. According to Drury, the goals for the AVID program is to make sure students are prepared for college, to increase the school's graduation rate and raise college attendance by the students. Drury's job as the new director of the AVID program for the high school is to make sure trainings get done, make sure students are lined up to be enrolled in the program and to lead the AVID program at the school. According to avid. org, AVID students complete 4-year college entrance requirements at a rate at least two times higher than the national rate. Students interested in the AVID program, which spans the nation, will have to put in an application to see if they qualify for the program and are eligible. Attendance Appeals Attendance appeal paperwork is available in the office as of right now. In order to find out the exact number of absences and tardies, students should check with their teachers. Appeal forms and all other supporting documents are due on May 29 at 8 am in the Main Office.