MANCHESTER, N.H. – The issue of removing “no grade” or “NG” grade for high school students was discussed for two hours at Monday’s special Manchester Board of School Committee (BOSC) Meeting.
The proposed change, which received recommendation from the BOSC Policy Committee last week, would remove Manchester School District Student Attendance Policy 101.1 Sections E and F, which give the “NG” grade to students who have five unexcused absences in a specific course. The policy only affects students who pass a class, as students with a failing grade with more than five unexcused absences would still receive a failing grade. Under the current policy, students can also remove those absences with proof of a dozen different reasons why they were absent.
At-Large BOSC Member Peter Argeropoulos removed the recommendation from the meeting’s consent agenda, with several members of the public also speaking against the policy change earlier in the meeting during public comment.
Argeropoulos moved to table the policy change, voicing concerns that while the policy was geared toward a move toward competency-based grading, many schools within the district have not reached competency-based grading yet.
That vote failed 8-7, with Argeropoulos joined by Ken Tassey (Ward 5), Jim O’Connell (At-Large), Peter Perich (Ward 8), Ben Dion (Ward 9) Gary Hamer (Ward 10) and Mayor Joyce Craig speaking in favor of tabling the change, with everyone else voting against the motion except for Carlos Gonzalez (Ward 12), who was absent.
District administrators recommended the removal of the policy, beginning with Network Director Erin Murphy and High School Curriculum Director Jillian Corey, and then Manchester Central Principal Deb Roukey, Manchester West Principal Richard Dichard and Manchester Memorial Principal Sean St. Onge.
The administrators and supporters of the change spoke to how the current NG policy, which was revived after the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionally impacts students that do not speak English as a native language as many parents from non-native English-speaking households may face linguistic barriers in obtaining proof for excusing absences.
Ward 5 BOSC Member Jason Bonilla was one of the most vocal supporters of the change, expressing frustration that a change administrators said was impacting minority students who have historically faced disadvantages in education compared to their peers would be stopped. He also felt the need to speak up on behalf of students of color given his own heritage.
“What are we doing here?” asked Bonilla. “The data is here. If you all look at the data, look at the Central data, look at the Memorial data, it’s impacting students that come from backgrounds like mine.”
Administrators also discussed how efforts to reach out to families and teachers in the hope of obtaining proof that the absence is excused creates a significant bureaucratic burden for staff for all students. It was also noted that the policy change was an attempt to separate grading from attendance since a student could theoretically be “double punished” by missing classes due to detentions or could also show comprehension in the material without being present in the class under some circumstances.
Assistant Superintendent Forrest Ransdell also stated that a similar policy was removed in 2010, but at that point the district did not have the truancy teams or attendance policies or social workers that it does not.
Opponents of the change expressed concern over the message that policy change would send to students, believing that without the “NG” grade that it would be okay to skip classes, which was echoed by BOSC Memorial Student Representative Mack Tripp.
Regarding the impact to students that do not speak English as a native language and their families, questions were asked why the district could not attempt to hire more social workers and make more efforts to reach out to those families.
O’Connell noted that the fact that the debate’s length was proof that it did not belong on the consent calendar and needed more study.
There was also discussion on why other methods to remove unexcused absences could be removed. Ward 7 BOSC Member Chris Potter said he once received an NG grade as a student and was able to make it up through a book report that he said changed his life.
“It’s important for the administration to implement the policy alongside other attendance initiatives, especially expanding our social work and bilingual family liaison staff,” said Potter.
At times during the discussion things got heated, with Perich accusing Ward 11 BOSC Member Dr. Nicole Leapley of grandstanding at one point, with Perich later apologizing to Leapley. There were also moments where members specifically mentioned other members’ viewpoints, which is not common during BOSC meetings and there were also concerns over the item being added to the agenda packet earlier in the day with other members responding that the minutes of the Policy Committee were available prior to today.
There was also confusion over the data presented by administration, but it was noted that data could be obtained over the next several months and the policy could be overturned if it proved to be harmful.
A vote to send the policy back to administration failed on a 7-7 vote, with Argeropoulos making the motion and joined by O’Connell, Perich, Dion, Hamer, Tassey and Potter.
Argeropoulos then made another motion to send the motion to the BOSC Committee on Teaching and Learning. This caused Leapley to accuse Argeropoulos of seeking to sending the item to that committee since he is on it, echoing earlier comments she made that issues relating to equity having to go to two committees. This motion was defeated 9-5, with Argeropoulos joined by O’Connell, Perich, Hamer and Tassey.
A motion to approve the item with an effective date of Nov. 9 passed by a vote of 9-6. The five members voting in favor of sending the item to Teaching and Learning opposed this motion, and were joined by Dion.
Later in the meeting, both Tassey and O’Connell thanked the board for the discussion and appreciated the differences of opinion that were allowed to be heard.
