LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tennessee (WKRN) — Beginning with this school year, Lawrence County will eliminate both excused and unexcused absences.
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The school board accepted the modification at the end of June.
This is crucial to attend school every single day,” said Michael Adkins, Director of Schools for Lawrence County, during therecorded meetingAnd if you’re experiencing a runny nose, that’s okay; you’ll likely get one when you go to work someday.
“They implemented this policy without conducting proper research and due diligence,” said Chuck Braden, a parent from Lawrence County.
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Within a few weeks, students will be marked as present or absent, without distinguishing between excused and unexcused. The school will initiate support measures after three absences and could request court involvement for truancy after eight.
In an attendance policy clarification, the Director states: “Some might view these actions as too strict or severe, which is not the goal. These measures are intended to assist—rather than intimidate or punish.”
He mentioned that initial contact with parents is essential: “These actions are not our first move — they are our final option.”
According to the policy, regardless of a doctor’s note, you are either present at school or you are not.
We were informed of one instance where they had 68 students with chronic absenteeism. Out of these, 40 had 20 or more days present, and all of them provided doctor’s notes,” Adkins mentioned at the meeting. “Our stance is: attend school.
There are exceptions, such as: death within the family, religious grounds, military-related matters, and long-term health conditions, requiring a doctor’s confirmation.
Some members of the board believe the adjustment promotes a strong work ethic and also tackles long-standing issues with absenteeism in the district.
What gives all of you the right to believe you know more than the parents and healthcare professionals?” Braden stated. “I’m not sure what the answer is, but there must be a better solution than this.
State data from the 2023-2024 State Report CardApproximately 15% of all students in Lawrence County were absent for 10% or more of the instructional days. Almost a quarter of these students came from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
A mother and nurse practitioner in the region thinks it would be difficult for some families to obtain a doctor’s note for students with long-term health conditions.
“In our specific region, there aren’t many doctors who treat children,” Elizabeth Beal explained.
“It will negatively impact the middle class and those in poverty,” Braden stated.
All neighboring counties noted marginally increased levels of persistent absenteeism:
- Wayne: 16.4%
- Maury: 18.8%
- Lewis: 23%
- Giles: 17%
The district also informed local physicians about the adjustment, urging them to dissuade patients from “doctor shopping.”
Parents are insisting on having a say in this policy.
“When we reached out to the Board of Education, we were informed that because it wasn’t on the schedule, we couldn’t present our case, and I believe that’s absurd,” Braden stated.
Some parents have expressed worries about possible breaches of federal privacy regulations and a lack of attention to students’ well-being.
They’re discussing sending these children to school with a runny nose because we have to do it as adults,” Braden said. “They’re kids. They aren’t adults.
In the short term, it’s conveying the idea that simply being present in the seat is more crucial than feeling engaged,” Beal stated. “In the long term, we are teaching them to ignore their bodies and neglect self-care over time. I came across a comment today that said, ‘We’re just preparing the next generation to not utilize their PTO days.’
The Schools Director informed New 2 that the district will measure attendance as an indicator of its effectiveness, stating, “LCSS will observe and apply support strategies throughout the year to help students facing attendance issues.”
When questioned about potential areas for future enhancement, he responded, “There is always opportunity for any policy to be made clearer for improved comprehension.”
School board member Chad Shannon said to News 2 that he has included the topic on the agenda for next month and plans to address it again in August.
Shannon provided a statement to News 2. It included the following:
What it means to put it on the agenda is not just about permitting public comments, but also about isolating this policy so we can cast a vote on it, allowing the community to observe where each of us stands. Additionally, it gives us the opportunity to modify or remove elements based on community feedback. I am currently developing a new policy proposal that separates truancy and chronic absenteeism into two distinct parts of the policy. It will be very straightforward. Whenever you find yourself needing to send a white letter to further clarify the intentions behind any policy, I believe the board has failed to clearly communicate their intentions to the public. This is not acceptable.
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