Altus School Board approves military deployment policy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kenneth Norman
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Policy 700.323 was approved at the Altus Public School District I-18 Board of Education meeting Sept. 12 by members of the Altus School Board.

The policy granted additional excused absences for students when a parent or guardian is being deployed, has recently returned from deployment or is taking leave prior to a deployment.

"I am very pleased that the Altus Board of Education has decided to adopt the Deployment Absence policy," said Col. James D. Peccia III, 97th Mission Support Group commander. "This is another great example of the fantastic relationship between Altus AFB and the City of Altus. I know this policy means a great deal to the parents who are either returning from or leaving for a deployment. Even the smallest reduction of stress during a potential stressful time such as deployment preparation or return makes a huge difference to the service members and their families."

According to the new policy, "a student whose parent or legal guardian is an active duty member of the uniformed services and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support base, shall be granted additional excused absences to visit with the student's parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian. Conditions for the consideration of absences as excused are: 1) approval has been requested from the principal in advance of the absence; 2) the student is in academic and attendance good standing; 3) missed work is completed and turned in within the school's allotted time period; and 4) the absence is not during standardized testing."

Before the approval of this policy, a parent who wanted to spend time with their children before leaving or after returning from a deployment would have to worry about their child's absences from school being unexcused, possibly causing them to be held back.

The approval of this policy will take some stress off of those who are deploying or returning home from deployment.

"I am very happy to know that this policy is now in place for parents who are deploying and have kids in the Altus school system," said Tech. Sgt. Rusty Bledsoe, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle mechanic. "I am deploying this winter and knowing that my kids will not be penalized for me spending extra time with them before I leave takes some of the stress off."