Changes to West Central student handbooks address several issues

As the West Central School Corporation prepares for the new school year, several changes are being made to the student handbook in hopes of addressing some issues that include absents, tardies and graduation credits. 
During a regular school board meeting on May 5, elementary principal Dan Zylstra and middle and high school principal Pat Culp gave brief descriptions of the student handbook changes. 
Zylstra said some of the changes include adjustments to the head lice policy; updates to the immunization policy to match the state; and prohibiting a cellphone to be with a student during the school day instead of it being in the student’s bag.
The biggest changes were made to the attendance policy. Zylstra said there have been some students who have not been in school enough. 
The new policy includes that if a child misses nine days of school, a doctor’s note will be required for any further excused absences. After the ninth absence, if there is not a doctor’s note the absence will be considered unexcused. When a student receives a number of unexcused absences, a note will be sent home to the parents. If it continues, the school corporation will contact the county prosecuting attorney’s office. 
The new policy regarding tardies was also changed. If a student shows up to school after 9 a.m., it will be considered a half-day absence. 
The absences do not have to be consecutive. 
Culp said graduation requirements have changed because of the school switching to a seven-period day. Students will lose an opportunity for credits with the new schedule. 
Another change includes that supplements, herbs or oils that are not FDA approved will not be administered by the school nurse. 
Culp said the new policy includes how class ranks are determined. It also clarifies how the valedictorian and the salutatorian are determined. The valedictorian and salutatorian will be determined at the end of the student’s senior year, not at the end of third term. 
Culp said the absences and tardies policy also changed and the drug testing policy was also added to the handbook. 
Superintendent Don Street said one of the changes that will affect all students is the increase in lunch prices. 
Several other new school year items that were addressed during the meeting include lunch prices, textbook rental and textbook adoption.