Middle School Attendance Statistics Reveal Fewer Absences, More Tardies

By Larissa Lytwyn

Newtown Middle School Principal Diane Sherlock shared a first quarter comparison of attendance, discipline, and academic statistics between the school’s student body this year and last fall, when there were earlier school start times, with fellow School Start Time Committee members during their January 14 meeting.

This year’s student population is only four students larger than last year’s. The middle school follows a 7:30 am to 1:52 pm schedule congruent with Newtown High School’s. The change was made to accommodate this year’s shift from a four- to three-tier bus system.

Last year, Newtown Middle School maintained a 9:14 am to 3:33 pm schedule.

Findings revealed 571 fewer absences this year but 290 more reports of tardy students.

The same 22 students represented 31 percent of tardies. Fifty-one percent of these late students, Ms Sherlock explained, were in school within 15 minutes at 7:45 am.

Last year, ten students represented 60 percent of all tardies.

One major change Ms Sherlock said she has noticed was the significantly reduced number of early dismissals this year, from 912 last fall to 407 so far this year.

“This finding makes sense,” she said. “When we were getting out later students had to be taken out earlier for doctor or dentist appointments.”

Another noteworthy change, Ms Sherlock continued, was that a greater number of students were doing their homework this year, because, students have told teachers, they simply have more time.

“One of our math teachers, Linda Dale Mulholland, keeps meticulous records,” Ms Sherlock said. “We used her records to collect this [homework] data.”

During this year’s first quarter, 56 percent of Ms Mulholland’s class completed all of their homework, a six percent increase over last year. While 78 percent completed 90 percent or more of their homework last year, a full 90 percent did so this year.

The students compared were at similar academic levels and underscored Ms Mulholland’s hypothesis that, indeed, more students were doing their homework.

Despite this year’s slightly larger student population, there have been 26 fewer disciplinary referrals and suspensions this year, down from 92 to 66.

“One of teachers interviewed the manager of Dunkin’ Donuts,” said Ms Sherlock, a small smile playing on her lips. She read the teacher’s report to the committee, noting that while last year about 100 students across grades 7 and 8 “hung out” at the shop before school has now been reduced to a handful of regulars.

“The manager said that they have seen an increase in adult business,” Ms Sherlock related. Dropped off at Dunkin’ Donuts by parents on their way to work, students later crossed the street to school, frequently “wired” from one too many Coolattas.

Less dramatically conclusive was grade distribution data. A total of 65.2 percent of last year’s seventh graders averaged A’s in the first quarter compared to this year’s slight drop to 64 percent. There was a slight increase in the percentage of students who acquired B’s, 27.6 percent this year compared to 25.3 percent last year. The number of C’s went down from 6.2 to 5.5 percent this year.

In the eighth grade, 52.6 percent of last year’s students achieved A’s during the first quarter; 53.3 percent did so this year. There was a slight drop, however, in the percentage of students who achieved B’s, from 32.3 percent last year to 31 percent this year. There was also a slight increase in the number of C’s among this year’s eighth graders, from 10.7 percent last year to 11.4 percent this year.

Ms Sherlock reviewed advantages and disadvantages to the middle school’s current schedule this past November. Teachers reported students being “more ready to learn” and “less stressed,” often because they had more time to do homework.

More anecdotal evidence, Ms Sherlock said, was that students told teachers that the current schedule allowed them more family time

Committee members including Wendy Leon-Gambetta, mother of a Newtown Middle School student, said that she was still concerned over the number of hours students could be in empty homes between approximately 2 and 6 pm. Studies have indicated that peak crime rates occur between 2 and 4 pm between pre and early adolescents, added committee member Dr Deborah Wollman-Pollack, a sleep expert.

Ms Sherlock, however, said that, so far this year, there have been fewer reports of loitering and other inappropriate behavior in hotbeds such as the area behind Big Y and Grand Union. This may be due, she continued, to “better policing” by the Newtown Police Department in the aftermath of last year’s problems.

“This issue is complex,” she said, noting the large number of variables involved in almost any issue relating to school schedules.

Middle Gate Elementary School Principal Judy Gallo related data that seemed to further indicate Ms Sherlock’s remark.

Attendance statistics from 2001 to 2003 at Middle Gate, Hawley, Sandy Hook School, and Head O’ Meadow revealed inconclusive date. Relatively low percentages varied from year to year despite this year’s later start times.

While Hawley’s start times have remained essentially the same, from 8:33 am to 2:45 pm, Middle Gate has shifted from an 8:30 am start time to its current 9:22 am to 3:34 pm schedule. Sandy Hook School and Head O’ Meadow’s shift to the 9:22 am schedule has been even more dramatic because last year both schools adhered to an 8 am to 2:12 pm schedule.

One significant change Ms Gallo has observed is an increase in the number of early dismissals. While data is still in the process of being culled from Sandy Hook School and Head O’ Meadow, 379 students were dismissed early during the first quarter this year; 215 students at Hawley.

Many parents pick students up early for doctor and dentist appointments, Ms Gallo said, as well as after-school religious education, brownie and girl scout meetings, dance, gymnastics, and other activities.

Many parents have also become accustomed to picking their children up, some as young as 5 or 6 years old, directly after-school to save their children from 45-minute bus rides home.

“It’s a very long day for children,” said Ms Leon-Gambetta, a Head O’ Meadow parent. “I can [attest] that Head O’ Meadow is a zoo after school.”

Committee member Barbara Bloom, also a parent, said that her elementary-aged child enjoyed riding on the bus with friends and portable entertainment, such as Game Boys, to pass the time. “I guess it’s just a matter of opinion,” she said.

Committee members Deborah Zukowski, Ms Bloom, and Ms Leon-Gambetta offered to draft a student performance assessment to send to parents.

The suggestion to implement an assessment was made by committee member, Board of Education Vice Chairman Lisa Schwartz. She said it could provide objective data that the committee could use in its final deliberations in the weeks ahead.

The next School Start Times Committee meeting is Wednesday, February 11, at 7 pm in Room 122 at Reed Intermediate School. For more information contact the Board of Education office at 426-7121.