Change Katy Independent School District's Attendance Policy Regarding Funerals

I used to live in this area. School officials need to not be so insensitive!

good thoughts go your way in this. In IIKE from beta

I was not lucky enough to have extended family IE cousins but most people I know who did are as close to them as a brother or sister! This policy is more then wrong it is criminal!

praying for your families loss and for this to be straightened out!!

Grief doesn't care how you are related.

This is a heartless policy to impose on a grieving family. My cousins were like siblings to me and in this day and age families are more complicated than your simplistic policy allows. Have a heart and do the right thing.

The child lost his 5 year old cousin. Do you people on the KISD have NO HEARTS FOR FAMILY?

As an alumni of KISD I think parents should be able to choose what's best for their kids in situations like this. What will this child remember in 10 years? Being with his family in this difficult time or one more average day of classes?

This is disgusting. It is not up to the school district to decide what is and isn't acceptable. It is up to the parents' to decide what is right for their children. This whole nonsense about not being a "nuclear family member" is a bunch of garbage- who is the school district to say that just because a deceased family member isn't a part of the student's nuclear family that it isn't any less traumatizing or painful. Shame on you Katy ISD. Shame. Maybe you guys could take a trip to Oz and ask the Wizard for a heart. And go ahead and ask for a brain while you're at it.

Please give serious consideration to changing this policy. Those of us who have known real grief know how important it is to have the support and presence of those we love, and that that comfort is not dependent simply on the closeness of the blood relationship. This is a decision that should be left entirely to a child's family and is not the business of the school. Thank you.

Have a heart people. Family is family.

Excused absences should include any funeral be it extended family or friends.

I'm a teacher and I agree with this. Should be excused. No questions asked. The school district should be ashamed.

In IIKE

I met Christine this previous summer at a professional development in Washington DC. From our short time together I can say that one of the, no THE most important aspect of her life is family. Christine would never do anything to jeopardize the education of her children. Considering the circumstance, I strongly suggest your administration make an exception for Christine and her family and change/reword your attendance policy for future years. -Shawn Hallowell; Cleveland, OH

it should be at the parents' discretion, and no one else's, what constitutes an excusable absence.

They fact that you can even question this, after all the pain this family has gone through is SICK!

As an educator, the emotional wellbeing of my students and their families is of he utmost importance. I beseech you to allow families to mourn the loss of anyone they choose, and to excuse any absence of students of KISD during times of mourning.

Even if the funeral had NOT been for the young victim of a very public community tragedy who was ALSO a close relative of the Katy ISD student, I find it APPALLING that an educational institution places a higher priority on their beloved state funding than on the fragile emotional and psychological well-being of children. For SHAME!

Katy ISD shame shame shame on you