“The powers that be have advised me that they were indeed aware of this perspective regarding overdue books, but that there is no reason parents cannot 'come to school' to pick up their final grade reports instead of simply sending them home on the last day.
The perspective being, if they are forced to come to the building they can be reminded to pay their child's overdue/lost book bills and for lunch accounts not kept up to date.
What is the correct, advisable path to take?”
9 comments:
“My principal had mentioned in the past that we would withhold grades for non returned books.
We pester kids for overdues, and when we get tired of that we send a discipline referral to our Dean of Students. He harasses them for us...he is a large, persistent man with a 100% success rate.
We have not had any complete losses this year that were not paid for. There are 2 or 3 hanging over from last year that I won't see again. I don't consider the losses to be a budgetary problem but I also buy books at the Putnam Sale and from Book Depot Educational so I feel good about how far I can stretch the budget I have.”--Susan Waring, Greene HS
“In some instances, while we have not withheld those records, we have required the parents to come in to school to pick them up. We don’t charge late fines, but we do charge if the student loses a book. They do lose library privileges (unless they come in with a class).
Needless to say, we lose a lot of books this way—no real consequences. Another reason we need more $$.” Pauline, SLS Coordinator
“At Sidney we have just put into effect in the MS and HS especially - the student and parents lose network access- this includes parents’ right to check power school.
At the Elementary School the final report is returned to the office and the parent must to come to school and pick it up - it is held but the parent does have the opportunity to get the report card - they usually pay for the books.”--Karen Clark
“Perhaps the librarian can look at his/her book return policies and loan policies.
One of our districts has a lower income population and for the kindergartners, the librarian only allows one paperback book to go home because they often lose books and never return them.
I know that I was very strict when I was in the library about book returns and if a student had an overdue, they didn't get another book until the paid or returned the book. Some librarians keep letting the students with overdues take more books. In addition, I showed up in classrooms to remind students and didn't let the overdues go for long periods without a call home, etc. I also had students pay a quarter a day, etc. - small increments to pay off the book.
There are always loses in libraries but I think much depends upon librarian practices.
These are only recommendations since I am not in his/her building and situation.”--Danielle
“In my old district on Long Island, there was always a threat of withholding grades or diplomas for unreturned library books, but in truth, we all knew that the law would never uphold such a practice. Unfortunately, the students knew it too.
I think the statement by the lawyer that John posted says it all.”—Suzanne, SLS Coordinator
“The school policy for Walton is to have any thing owed by the school used as cause to withhold the report card from the kid. It does not mean they will not move onto the next grade just that they won't see their report card.”--Nancy DiJulio
“I don't know what you did at Otego, but I do not loan any books to students until they have paid for the lost/damaged book. I charge replacement value. If the book is out of print and I don't have an original cost, I charge $5 for paperbacks and $10 for hard cover.
At the end of the school year, parents must come in to the school to pick up the report cards. I am not sure, as was discussed in a previous email, if they withhold the reports until the lost book/textbook is paid for or returned. I don't believe so. Of course, for parents with a login/password to PowerSchool, this is a moot point.
By the way, I thought it was against state ed. policy for school libraries to charge fines. I know some schools do, figuring they will until they are caught.”--Prudence
“At Sherburne-Earlville our library budget does not fluctuate based on enrollment.”--Kathleen Todd
“I've been following the discussion concerning withholding grades/rpt cards when there are library fines due. Usually these same students owe money elsewhere in the school - like the cafeteria.
Although the law says one cannot withhold the grades, the school may require a parent to come to school to pick up the report card. This works 99% of the time.
Once, when I worked in Kingston, I actually had a student whose family never came to get his report card! The following school year to minimize my losses, the student was only allowed to borrow library books from the soft cover section.”—Maxine, SLS Coordinator, retired
The comments received on the topic of lost and overdue books and the withholding of grades by administration were received by email and have been posted to the blog for access. Thank you all for your thoughtful and incisive responses.
Chuck
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