By Megan Wehring
DRIPPING SPRINGS – Nearly 100 Dripping Springs ISD (DSISD) students out of 7,487, or 1%, were marked absent last Friday for a sit-out protest against masks.
Some parents pulled their kids out of school in an attempt to pressure the district to change the mask policy. Adults and students at least four years old are required to wear a mask on school premises, during instruction and school-related programs. Masks are optional while engaging in physical activity outside during recess and other activities, while social distancing.
“We believe attendance is always important for our students,” said Dale Whitaker, executive director of communications, “because of the value of instructional time.”
While attendance impacts funding, DSISD said it is reported as an average over a period of time. This year’s district attendance is calculated using “hold harmless” by using data from previous years. Single-day attendance would not have a direct impact on funding.
