Parent asks board to waive attendance penalties for world-champion athlete

At the Sept. 23 meeting of the Board of Education, a parent whose daughter is an elite synchronized figure skater told the board that district attendance rules will penalize her academically for 27 anticipated absences this year. Scott Carlson, who identified himself as the parent of a junior at the district, said his daughter competes internationally with Team USA and will miss 27 school days this year — 11 days more than the district allows without academic penalty. Carlson said he had sought a waiver from the district and that his request was denied. Carlson urged the board to reconsider the portion of the student-attendance policy that assigns zeros for homework and deducts points on major projects after eight absences in a semester. He said the policy ''seems contrary to promotion of education and excellence'' for his daughter's circumstances. Board members heard the comment during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not take immediate action. The board chair reminded speakers that public comment is not a question-and-answer period; no formal response or policy change was made at the meeting. The parent said he intends to bring the matter back to the board in an appropriate forum. The board's record of the meeting shows no board motion or vote on attendance policy that evening.