In-school suspension will supplement zero-tolerance policy
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ST. IGNATIUS — St. Ignatius Middle and High Schools have a zero-tolerance policy on late or missing work. In-school suspension will now help employ that policy for students who are falling behind.
The zero-tolerance policy requires students to hand in completed homework on time. Teachers and students check for missing assignments on a weekly basis. If a student has missing work on Friday, he or she is given until Monday to complete them. If he doesn’t, he has to attend the after-school study hall. After-school tutoring lasts 40 minutes and is there to help students finish their work.
“I think it sets an expectation for our students,” High School and Middle School Principal Jason Sargent said.
According to Sargent, the policy was created in order to raise academic success, but administrators have encountered some students who do not show up for this study time. In these cases, the students are given in-school suspension where they are helped throughout the day with schoolwork.
Sargent said a large number of students recently were given ISS. As a result, Sargent believed it would be best to create a new model for ISS to better help students. This will include completing self-evaluations and individual learning plans that will better help educators and students plan goals and identify challenges.
“It will be a very sterile academic atmosphere,” Superintendent Bob Lewandowski said.
Starting Oct. 31 two rooms will be designated specifically for ISS, and the school board voted unanimously to advertise and hire a full-time temporary aid to help the two teachers now.
Sargent predicted the program wouldn’t need three teachers next year and because the policy is new, the school is working out the kinks and making adjustments.
“The goal is to gain achievement and not throw 30 kids in a room,” Sargent said. “The zero policy is a lot of work but I think it’s going to pay and make a difference.”
Student attendance is also another priority for the school district, and soon parents of students who have seven or more absences will start receiving an automated wake-up message at 7 a.m. Parents who have students with 10 or more absences will receive two messages, one at 7 a.m. and another at 7:30 a.m. The message will include a morning attendance greeting and the time school starts.
Lewandowski hopes the wake up message will “open up the door for conversation” and bring to people’s attention that attendance is important.
“One of the largest barriers to student success in Mission is attendance,” Lewandowski wrote on his school blog.
Lewandowski also mentioned that he and others are on the “grant hunt” again this year. At the meeting the board approved an application submission for a $10,000 Indian Education for All grant. It was also announced that the Montana Gear Up was approved for the school for the next seven years. Montana Gear Up supports schools, students and families by increasing academic preparedness, postsecondary planning and financial aid knowledge.
In other news, high school math teacher Andy Fisher presented to the board information about a math contest held in Missoula Feb. 29. The contest is organized by the Montana Council of Teacher of Mathematics and is conducted by taking three 30-minute tests. Students who score in the top 15 percent are awarded a superior rating and those in the 15-to-35 percent bracket are given an honorable mention. Fisher has been involved with the contest for the past nine years. He mentioned that he used to take anyone who wanted to go but recently started taking only 30 students. Fisher’s presentation is part of a new initiative that will include presentations from different teachers through the year to the school board.
Before the end of the meeting, it was also announced that another breakfast will take place Nov. 7 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and will again feature present organizational leaders in the community and school. A similar breakfast was served during Homecoming Week and was well-attended. Lewandowski said the school hopes the breakfast becomes a regular meeting for the community.
