Board tightens student absence notification window to 24 hours; exceptions by review team

The Manhasset Board of Education approved a revision to the district’s student attendance policy tightening the required notification window from 72 hours to 24 hours and clarifying who may approve exceptions. During a third-and-final reading, district staff said the only substantive change was the notification time frame and that exceptions may be approved by the attendance review team or the building principal.

Mariana, presenting the change, said the 24-hour notification requirement is a narrowing of the prior 72-hour window and will “bring focus” to attendance communications. Board members said the change reflected current practice and will help teachers and staff determine whether absences are excused for purposes such as test administration and make-up work. Mariana noted that teachers previously did not always know whether an absence was excused or unexcused and that the tightened window should help clarify procedures for rescheduling tests and administering makeup work.

The board voted to approve the attendance policy revision as a third and final reading during the meeting; no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. The revision directs staff to adopt the 24-hour notification rule and to apply exceptions through the attendance review team or building principal as appropriate. Board members characterized the change as largely procedural and said the district has already been operating under similar practice.

The board flagged a follow-up: ensure staff and families understand the new window and that school offices are prepared to document and communicate excused/unexcused statuses promptly.