Tardiness has been an ongoing issue at UHS, but a new process called “Tardy Sweeps” has been introduced to encourage students to get to class on time. During a Tardy Sweep, deans and staff patrol the hallways two minutes after the passing period time, directing late students to student services for their first Tardy Sweep warning.
According to UHS deans, tardy sweeps have been extremely effective so far, and the number of tardy students has significantly decreased since November. “There were more than fifty students when tardy sweeps first started in November after Thanksgiving,” said Dean Ron Green. According to the UHS administration, students have been arriving more consistently to their classes in a timely manner and only two to three students at a time get caught in Tardy Sweeps.
Tardy Sweeps are paired with consequences such as parental contact, compost duty in the cafeteria, ISS, and even suspension. The majority of students caught in Tardy Sweeps are 10th and 11th graders and the passing period between 1st and 2nd is when they mark the most students late. Administration believes this could be because students are still adjusting to the early school day. Although students believe the policy is harsh, it has proven to be effective in getting students to class on time. “Since it’s been working and we have come up with a quick system, Principal Ott wants us to continue Tardy Sweeps throughout the year,” said Dean Kaylin Nieves. Tardy Sweeps are scheduled to be pushed into the next school year if late attendance continues to be a significant issue.
