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Parent warns Henrico board that proposed makeup-work policy could erode accountability
Summary
A Fairfield District resident told the school board that a proposed makeup-work policy (referred to as P7-88) would allow students to receive full credit for makeups regardless of whether absences were excused, which she said would reduce accountability and increase teachers' workloads.
Marlene Sherlock, a Fairfield District resident, used the public forum to challenge language discussed at a recent work session that she said would permit full credit for makeup work regardless of whether an absence was excused.
"How can you, in good conscience, talk about accountability and propose that work can be made up for full regardless of whether an absence is excused or not?" Sherlock asked the board, saying such a standard would "blur the lines" and send the wrong message to students, parents and employers.
Sherlock argued the change would devalue on-time work and place additional burdens on teachers, who would have to create makeup assignments and extend grading periods. "Having to create makeup work and dragging out the grading period for materials adds to even more tasks on their already full plate," she said.
She warned of downstream effects on workplace expectations, saying a student raised under such a policy could face consequences on the job: "We find ourselves shocked when a young employee ... finds themselves in trouble at work or worse fired for being AWOL." Sherlock urged the board not to adopt policy language that removes distinctions between excused and unexcused absences.
The comment referred to a work-session discussion and expressed a community concern; the public forum is not a decision-making period and the board did not take action during the meeting. Staff follow-up to public commenters was offered under the forum rules.
