MARYSVILLE — Attendance dipped, but not as much as expected, during four days of school that have traditionally been part of Marysville’s winter break.
Student absence ranged from 8.7 percent to 14.5 percent on the days that were included in the school district calendar after the longest teachers strike in state history last fall.
The Marysville School Board and Marysville Education Association couldn’t agree on a calendar until mid-December following the 49-day strike. Most school districts across the state have their traditional two-week winter vacation Dec. 22-Jan. 5.
In Marysville, classes were in session Dec. 22, 23 and Monday and Tuesday. The district, which started the school year on Oct. 22, also will have a shortened spring break, added two Saturday classes and extended the school calendar to July 16. It must have schools open for students for 180 days to comply with state law.
The district expected lower attendance the past two weeks, said Judy Parker, a school district spokeswoman. Some families made vacation plans long before the calendar was set, and there also are custodial issues during the holidays for children whose parents no longer live together, she said.
"We heard from parents that they had made plans," Parker said. "We, of course, didn’t know how many."
On Dec. 22, the first day of traditional vacation, about 8.7 percent of the district’s approximately 11,000 students were absent. By comparison, the absence rate was 6.5 percent for the week of Dec. 8-12.
The highest dates for absences were Dec. 23 at 13 percent and Monday at 14.5 percent.
For instance, at Cedarcrest School, a middle school campus, 142 out of 943 students were absent Monday, while 88 out of 655 students were missing at Allen Creek Elementary School.
On Tuesday, the absence rate dropped to 10.8 percent.
"That’s not bad at all, since this is flu season anyway," said Elaine Hanson, president of the 650-member teachers union. "I just think that people are willing to roll with the punches and be flexible."
The number of substitute teachers ranged from 30 on Dec. 23 to 59 on Tuesday, as some teachers took sick leave and others opted to take personal leave days allowed in their old contract.
On Monday, 19 teachers had prearranged personal leave days. That was within the 5 percent allowed in the labor contract, Hanson said.
The teachers union and school district have yet to agree on a new contract for the current school year.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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