BY TIMMY CARR
Staff Writer

When the new attendance procedures were announced in the fall, administrators said students with excessive unexcused absences and tardies could be restricted from attending formals and proms.

For a small number of students, that is exactly what happened.

Students with 10 or more unexcused tardies or absences were sent a letter informing them that they were being put on social probation. The letter also said they were being given the chance to set up a meeting with an administrator to start working toward being taken off social probation.

“Since the (attendance) procedure has taken affect, attention to detail has increased,” Assistant Principal John Saras said.

Saras reported that 5.6 percent of all Baldwin students received the social probation letter. Of that group, fewer than 10 percent set up a meeting with administrators to discuss their problem and begin working to improve the situation.

The remainder of those who received the letter are still on social probation, and as a result were not allowed to attend prom.

Seniors Mandi and Tori Johnston were among the small group to set up a meeting with an administrator to get off of social probation.

Mandi Johnston said the administrators were very understanding. After the meeting they checked to see if she was keeping up with her grades and getting to school on time. She was rewarded for her efforts by being able to attend the prom, she said.

“If the letters were just a means to give students a drive to get to school on time, then I would say that it worked,” she said. “I know that once Tori and I got the letters, we have been here on time every day since.”

Senior Carl Bush is among the students who did not set up a meeting with an administrator, and as a result he remains on social probation.

“I got the letter about social probation because of my attendance,” Bush said. “When they said that means that I can’t go to prom, I thought, `Why even bother with a meeting that most likely won’t change anything.’ “