School Officials Warn of High Cost of Absenteeism

Los Angeles Unified School District officials warned parents and students Thursday that widespread absenteeism resulting from anxiety over the Littleton, Colo., massacre will cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars, and vowed to increase punishment for students who make violent threats.

Although district officials reported that most schools were back to normal Thursday, they said some campuses are still reeling from the rumors of fights, bombs and shootings that have kept thousands of students home in the last two weeks.

“The anxiety and fear has had a negative impact on learning,” said Dan Isaacs, an assistant superintendent in charge of school operations, which includes safety issues.

With schools conducting statewide testing, officials said the timing couldn’t be worse. “Frankly, we’re concerned that this could affect test scores,” said Brad Sales, a district spokesman.

Not only are students distracted from lessons, officials said, but also the absenteeism, which has spiked sporadically in pockets of schools throughout Los Angeles, costs the district about $21.33 per pupil for every day a student is absent, even with a legitimate excuse.

District statisticians were still calculating how many students have been absent in the last two weeks, and which absences resulted from rumors, warmer weather, sickness or a combination of reasons.

But school officials said they are so concerned about the amount the district will lose because of rumors that they are considering applying for emergency funding from the state, as is done after an earthquake or other event that might cause a high rate of absenteeism.

“It’s a serious funding issue,” school board member Julie Korenstein said.

District officials said the large number of absences has been spotty, restricted to certain schools on certain days, but still enough to cause concern about how the district will recoup the money, which is used to pay for school maintenance and staff salaries, among other things.

An estimated $33,061 was lost Wednesday at Chatsworth High, where about half of the 3,100 students stayed home because of unfounded rumors that “there were going to be problems,” said Principal Dan Wyatt.

At Taft High, $17,064 was lost one day last week when rumors of campus destruction caused 800 of 2,800 students to be absent.

“The rumors have gone way too far, and it’s time to get back to learning,” said Korenstein, who introduced a motion at a board committee meeting Thursday to impose stiffer criminal and civil penalties, as well as school discipline, on any student who makes a verbal or written threat. The board will vote on the motion Tuesday.

The district also printed fliers titled in big letters, “Making Threats Is No Joke,” to be posted around its 650 schools.

At Granada Hills High School, where rumors kept a third of the students home last Friday, concern has died down, said Principal Kathleen Rattay. Fewer worried parents are calling, and the absentee rate returned to normal this week, she said, despite a rumor that the school would experience violence Thursday.

“The rumors have had no basis in fact,” Rattay said. “People are realizing that, and getting back to normal.”