By Heather Tressler

Record Staff Writer

JOHNSONBURG – The Johnsonburg Area High School will be more rigidly enforcing the Pennsylvania state Mandatory Attendance laws, according to Kurt Pyle, principal at Johnsonburg Area High School.
“These laws have always been implemented,” Pyle said. “We are just notifying parents that we are tightening up.”
The areas the district will be enforcing more heavily is that an excuse for an absence must be presented to the district within five days; which is no different than what was enforced before nor different from state law.
According to Pyle, the clause encompasses medical excuses and tardies.
In addition to notifying parents, Pyle said the district has taken action to notify health care providers to ensure they give students the proper excuse for doctor’s visits.
The reason for tightening the belt on excuses, Pyle says, is to ensure in a timely fashion that things are taken care of.
“We need to make sure we get them in as soon as possible,” explained Pyle. “At the end of the year we must account for all students everyday. This has always been part of the attendance mandating, but it has now become a part of No Child Left Behind, and we have to have a certain attendance percentage.”
Pyle assures that students won’t directly be affected. However, he does say students may need to take  more responsibility for their actions.
“There is really no change,” Pyle said. “But, students will need to be more responsible for themselves.”
Pyle said students are alloted 15 absent days throughout the school year, including illegal and excused absences. He explained that after these 15 days, excuses must be for medical reasons or the student would receive consequences for their absenteeism. Pyle said the consequences could involve notifying the district magistrate.
Pyle adds this enforcement is a mere reminder to parents that excuses need to delivered to the district as soon as possible to defer further action being taken.
In addition to tighter enforcement, Pyle said there will no longer be reminders sent out in the mail. Pyle said this is because the timeliness doesn’t compliment the five–day limit.
Pyle also added that if there are any questions, parents can contact him at the high school.