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One absence from an exam

Little League players who racked up excused absences don't want more.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published August 24, 2005

EAST LAKE - The teens on East Lake's Little League team recently compiled a near-perfect record in the Junior League Baseball World Series at Taylor, Mich.

Now their school attendance will have to be near-flawless, too.

Over a two-week period, the all-star team of 11 boys missed school for what they thought was a legitimate excuse: They were competing against teams from all over the world in a once-in-a-lifetime experience that culminated with a loss in the championship game.

The eight absences are excused, but they will still count if the boys, all 13 or 14, want to be exempt from their final exams.

Pinellas County School District policy says that a student with more than nine absences for other than school business - excused or unexcused - must pass the semester final exam in that class to earn credit.

The boys - who include nine freshmen at East Lake High School, one freshman at Palm Harbor University High School and one eighth-grader at Tarpon Middle School - missed eight school days during the world series. One more absence and they will have to sharpen their No. 2 pencils.

"It was a little bit of a shock at first," East Lake manager Manuel Franco said. "But once we found out about the policy, we tried to make the best out of the situation."

To qualify for an exemption, students must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in each class. Seniors with good grades can skip all of their exams, while underclassmen can waive up to three.

Franco said the boys went to school Aug. 4 and 5 to avoid accumulating the 10 days at once, and he made sure all of their absences were excused.

"Their teachers gave us the assignments they would miss while they were in the world series," Franco said. "I set up a study hall each night so they wouldn't fall behind. I think they'll be in good shape."

None of the players or their parents could be reached for comment this week.

East Lake High principal Clayton Snare sympathizes with the players' situation. Snare's son, Ryan, and daughter, Michelle, played in the East Lake Little League organization.

But policy is policy.

"I'm not the ogre here," Snare said. "I feel for these kids, I really do. I followed them throughout the world series. I plan on putting something up on the marquee at school. But my hands are tied.

"It would be the same thing if someone had meningitis or an automobile accident. They'd still have to take the exams if they missed 10 days."

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13]