The Middleton School District strongly encourages students to be in attendance each day. We believe that student absences do have a negative impact on student learning. High student absenteeism is the factor most associated with high dropout rates. Student absences also affect the state financial support received by each Idaho School District to educate your child(ren).

Excessive student absenteeism is often a result of one or more of the following six factors:

1. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often have a less favorable impression of school. These students may need to be reassured that they are respected for who they are, be required to do their best and be provided the help to achieve their best.

2. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often perceive parental discipline as being lax or inconsistent. The need for daily attendance at school and the impact it has on the student’s overall education may not have been reinforced.

3. Students who have excessive student absenteeism often believe parents are attempting to exert more control over them.

4. Students who have excessive student absenteeism feel academically inferior to others. These students often cannot keep up with the schoolwork or are failing and may need additional assistance with their schoolwork.

5. Students who have excessive student absenteeism experience more than the normal family conflicts at home.

6. Students who have excessive student absenteeism may feel less socially competent in class. These students may not have experienced positive relationships with other students and may not feel safe at school.

All of these variables are interrelated and therefore, success in increasing student attendance is more probable if community members, organizations, parents, students and school staff share in the tasks of identifying solutions to all these concerns.

The School District supports “quality learning and superior performance for all.” To achieve these goals -- parents and students must form a working partnership with our schools and their staff. One important aspect of this partnership is good school attendance, which helps fund our schools. Our average daily attendance (ADA) is computed to determine how many dollars we get and each child present (every day) allows us to collect about $1,300 per student annually. When students are present for critical academic instruction, they are able to master academic material and life skills knowledge. This knowledge will enable them to achieve success in higher education and the future world of work. Good daily attendance correlates directly with success in school. Punctuality and good attendance are life skills modeled by parents, which will carry over into adulthood. Parental attitude sets and example, which has a great impact on children. Parents need to let their children know how important school is to their future success. The School District will continue striving to provide a quality and meaningful education that will prepare all Middleton students for the future. Parents in partnership with the school and community can make sure their students attend school daily; complete the academic requirements, graduate from high school, and learn the values and skills needed so they can be successful in the world of work. Through this partnership, the goal of “quality learning and superior performance for all” will be attained.

Here are some suggestions as to how parents can assist us in improving your child’s school attendance:

 Talk with your child about the importance of attending school regularly and determine if there are specific reasons your child does not want to attend school. If the reasons given are specific to school, talk with the child’s respective teacher about his/her concerns.

 Avoid scheduling family trips or doctor appointments during school hours.

 Make sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep and exercise.

 Do not accept excuses for why your child ‘must’ miss or be late for school.

 Discuss with your child what happens each day at school. Support school rules and consequences for skipping class and being tardy.

 Lead by example. Parents, who regularly attend work, set a good example for consistent school attendance by their child.

 Show your child why education is important. Give specific examples of how education helps people succeed.

During past years, School Board Members have received their Board packet strictly in hard copy on the Friday prior to their regular 2nd Tuesday of the month meetings. These packets were each organized in a manner that provided Board Members with easy reference connections from the agenda to the administrative recommendations and all associated attachments for action items. These packets were normally 100 pages in length and required hand delivery to arrive in time for Board members to study the information provided in order to make educationally sound decisions on behalf of our students.

The Middleton School Board members recently approved the new format of ‘electronic board packets’ at their regular December Board meeting. The ‘BoardBook’ program that will be utilized by the District is hosted off site and allows Board members to access Board packet information from any location that has access to the internet. Along with Board packet information, they will be able to access their Bi-Weekly newsletter and the District’s Policy and Procedure Manual. The Board approved use of ‘BoardBook’ has solved a challenge facing our District and every District—how to eliminate the 100 pages devoted to School Board meeting agenda packets, newsletters and the Policy / Procedure Manual. Utilization of this electronic board packet program will allow our District to conserve and stretch dollars that were previously spent in time, paper and printing costs.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international movement where members of the law enforcement community initiate and implement Torch Runs and events to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics. Beginning in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics, the Law Enforcement Torch Run remains Special Olympics’ largest grass-roots fund-raiser and public awareness vehicle. In 2007, this international movement raised more than US $30 million for Special Olympics programs. More than 85,000 law enforcement officers carried the “Flame of Hope” around 50 states and 35 nations raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics. Thousands more supported the runners’ efforts through “Adopt-A-Cop” runner sponsorships, corporate sponsorships and Torch Run t-shirt (400,000 t-shirts) and other merchandise sales to fellow law enforcement officers, families, friends and the public. On January 28, 2009 the Flame of Hope will reach Idaho, and begin the Final Leg of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run. It will reach Boise, Idaho on February 7, 2009 and be used to light the Cauldron to mark the official beginning of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games is made up of an international team of 142 members, which includes 95 Law Enforcement Officer Runners, 10 Special Olympics athletes and support personnel, who will serve as Guardians of the Flame® as they welcome and receive the “Flame of Hope” in Idaho. To symbolize the significant contribution of law enforcement and the inclusion of Special Olympics athletes in this unified Torch Run, the Final Leg Team will conduct extensive runs and ceremonies in all of the Host Town Program communities and in many other towns throughout Idaho to heighten awareness of Special Olympics and the World Games. The Final Leg Team will safely deliver the “Flame of Hope” to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Opening Ceremony in Nampa, Idaho on February 7th.
On February 5th, the Special Olympic Torch Run will begin at Mill Creek Elementary School, travel down Middleton Road to Main Street and then on to Middleton High School. Middleton High School will hold an assembly for its students and local dignitaries as part of Middleton’s participation in this Global Torch run. This approximately 30-minute assembly will feature speakers such as the:

Mayor of Middleton Sheriff Department Representative
High School Principal Special Olympics Global Messenger
Law Enforcement Torch Run Officer Middleton Student Body Officers

The students of Middleton High School will be allowed to design the remainder of the assembly around the Special Olympics. At the end of the assembly, there will be photo opportunities with the dignitaries, for our students and staff.

According to Idaho Code and District policy, eleven hours is allowed during a school year for emergency closures. Any time missed beyond the eleven hours must be made up, by adding additional minutes each day or day(s) as an extension of the school year. The Middleton School Board and Administration’s first concern is for the safety of our students and staff when making a decision to close school for inclement/unsafe weather conditions or for other reasons. The decision to close our schools is taken very seriously, as we realize that it has wide-spread ramifications that range from: missing instruction time, parent scheduling of day-care, to continuing district-wide costs when school is not in session. Parents always have the right to keep their child at home if they believe in is in the best interest of their child’s safety, even when Middleton School District has determined that school can remain open. These absences will be treated as an ‘excused’ absence if the parent has notified the school of their child’s absence and will be counted as a part of the total absences for the nine-weeks, semester and year.

Dr. Bauscher or his designee will release information to Building Principals, Directors and Supervisors by 6 a.m. to inform them of our closure status due to inclement weather. Parents and students will receive notification through the local media. Please listen to the radio or watch our local television stations for updates.


DELAYED START (This delayed start is only to be used as a last alternative)

If the District has scheduled a delayed start, staff shall report as soon as safely possible. Classes would begin at 9:30 a.m. (one-hour delay) or 10:30 a.m. (two-hour delay). The number of hours school is to be delayed will be announced on as many radio and television stations as possible.