Tardy sweeps lead to fewer tardies

The administrators no longer announce the tardy sweeps every class period, but the tardy sweeps still happen every day and every class period except for the fourth period. Students that are late to class must get a tardy pass and must go to either the main cafeteria or the k hall cafeteria. 

Seven weeks ago, administrators started doing tardy sweeps more consistently to keep students from being late to class. According to assistant principal Calina Tucker, the first week of doing the tardy sweep the number of students was 3,480 and the number went down to 1,096 three weeks ago. Last week, the number of students caught in the tardy sweeps was 1,271.

“We do the tardy sweeps to let the students know we really want them in class,” Tucker said. “We want them to have time management skills.”

When the students get caught in the tardy sweeps, they miss a part of class because they have to get a pass, and if they get two in one day they risk getting sent to ISS making them miss more than one class.

“A lot of times they’ll see the tardy sweeps as just some way to just miss the first part of class but then they’re missing instruction and they’re missing the agenda for the day,” teacher Paul-Anthony Middleton said.

Senior Jorge Ruiz has his own ideas about where places for tardy passes should be collected should be to help make the tardy sweeps easier and quicker. 

“By the main office, like in between A hall and the main office,” Ruiz said.  

Students view the tardy sweeps as an inconvenience to them and just see it as making school even more difficult.

“Sometimes students need to go to the restroom really bad and then get caught in tardy sweep,” Ruiz said. “And if they get twice, they would stay out of class.”

Attendance rates since the tardy sweeps started have gone up for teachers with having most of their kids in class and on time. 

“I have 3 block classes and an enrichment period,” Middleton said. “I have more attendance with the students since the tardy sweeps have been enforced.” 

The period with the most students caught in the tardy sweeps is first period. There are tardy sweeps during first period to encourage students to get to school on time. 

“Students are coming to school late. School starts at 8:45,” Tucker said. “We’re seeing that students are coming as late as 9 o’clock.” 

Middleton said the tardy sweeps can also help students learn how to manage their time throughout the day and show how much time they really have. 

“If they are worried about trying to go somewhere else, they could go to class first and it helps them prioritize their day,” Middleton said. “So it’s not so much a punishment, it's a way to get you to go to class and remember how long your passing period is.” 

For those students who have to walk far distances to get to class, the administrators have created a minute or two minute pass. The students will have to go to their grade level office to get these passes. These let students leave class early depending on the pass. For the students that need more than one class that they need to leave early, they are given a red lanyard. 

“Now, we do have students who are in ECHS in more than one class," Tucker said. "They have a red lanyard. We know they will have to walk further distances."

Administrators see the tardy sweeps as a way to help students with their attendance.  

“So with the tardy sweeps we’re letting them know, not only that you have to come to school on time, but we are making sure that they are not counted absent, but to count them tardy,” Tucker said. 

Grade level offices-

9th grade- B109

10th grade- C200

11th grade- A200 or E243

12th grade- A101