GRANADA HILLS : Police Help Quell Walkout by Students

More than 100 students at Kennedy High School in Granada Hills briefly threatened a walkout Friday over the school’s strict attendance policy, but were kept at bay by the stern warnings of their principal and the presence of Los Angeles police officers.

“We were too prepared for them,” said Principal Andreda Pruitt. “I told them that if they left, they wouldn’t be able to come back. And with the police there, they calmed down pretty quickly.”

A group of students planned to leave school shortly after 8:30 a.m. at the end of first period to protest Kennedy’s unusual policy of barring students from graduation ceremonies who have an attendance record of less than 90%.

More than 100 students massed at the front door of the school, a few shouting, “Let’s leave,” but dispersed within about 10 minutes, Pruitt said.

Although attendance at Kennedy does not directly affect a student’s eligibility to graduate, those who miss more than 20 of the 180 days of any class receive a failing grade. The attendance policy at Kennedy began in September, with the support of most parents, Pruitt said.

The school has combined penalties for absenteeism with a game called “Attendo,” in which students who come to school every day become eligible for raffle prizes, in an effort to encourage perfect attendance.

“We are already seeing the success of this in action this year,” Pruitt said. “Our attendance is up more than 3% over this time last year, so it seems useful.”

She said she plans to meet with representatives of each homeroom class next week, to discuss students’ concerns over the policy.