This year, West Albany has changed its tardy policy into tardy stations. Melissa Koenig explains how the new tardy stations work in this brief interview.

Melissa Koenig:

So, my name is Melissa Koenig and I’m the freshman success coordinator and teacher, and I also do the tardy policy. And so basically, the policy was put into place because we were seeing a huge influx of tardies, especially after lunchtime and first thing in the morning. So [Principal Susie] Orsborn came and said, “Hey, we need somebody to really just focus on this issue because students are missing class time and they’re falling behind.” So it worked out with my position that I would have the time to dedicate to it.

So how it works is basically: we have two stations that students can enter through. They can come into C Hall doors or by the gym, or they can come in through the main lobby and every other door is locked. Safety. First of all, that, and also to make sure we know who’s coming through those doors, and so we have people stationed at those two areas. And so they check in, they get a tardy slip—takes maybe about 20 seconds for them to sign in—and then they should be heading to class. As of right now, the tardy policy is that the first one is a warning, the second one they are issued a detention, and the third one they’re issued a detention and their parents are called, and then the fourth one they’re issued an in-school suspension or Saturday school–more often than not, Saturday school.

Emmalynn Weible:

Do you think this new tardy policy is working?

Melissa Koenig:

We’ve seen a huge decrease right after lunch especially, so, yeah, and I had some students come in just a second ago saying, “We don’t like this new tardy table. It’s kind of awkward.” And I said, “Well, then it’s doing its job. You shouldn’t be here late. You should be to class on time. It should be awkward.”

So, especially after lunch. Yes, we still get tardies in the morning but the chronic offenders are getting the class on time more often so yeah, so overall, it’s working.