SEQUIM — A plan by Sequim High School officials to improve student performance by reducing absences has apparently succeeded.
Mark Willis, who is finishing the academic year as high school assistant principal, reported that the number of students receiving failing grades in two or more classes declined by 33 percent between the spring and fall quarters of 2001.
Willis was named principal at Sequim Middle School during Monday night’s Sequim School District School Board meeting. His report was part of a school improvement plan required of every campus in the district.
Willis said letters were sent to parents when a student was absent for 5, 10 and 15 days. Some students, under an attendance contract, were removed from one or more classes and placed in a study hall environment to help them pass other classes.
More than 1,200 letters were sent to parents of students with five absences, 593 were sent for students with 10 or more absences, and 233 were sent for students with more than 15 absences.
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