I know this is a small thing but...

CFjo2010

I got to school this afternoon and went into the office to grab some stuff. When I walked into the office some woman was signing K out. I've never seen this woman before so I walked up, said hi to K and introduced myself. Apparently K was going to her friend's house for a play date and the woman signing the girls out is the friend's SM.

It's not as though today is my husband's day or that K can't have play dates at her friends' homes. What irked me is that K was getting signed out 30 minutes early by someone who isn't on the Emergency card. I know it's only 30 minutes, but considering K is nearly 20 minutes late getting to school each day, it's almost as though K missed an hour of school today. My husband is going to request a copy if K's sign in/out card to see if this is a habitual thing that's occurring. If its a onetime thing I don't think it's worth bringing up with BM. But how frequent is considered too much?

Again, I know it's a small thing but does anyone else find this strange?

Nineoceans

I would not be ok with that. Why would the school allow someone who is not a parent/guardian or school contact to sign the child out? Not cool

jenjen930

I would not be okay with that either. Why can't the play date wait 30 minutes? That us not a good enough reason to leave early IMO.

ldmessing

I assume k is your step child?  If her mother allowed it there isn't much you or your husband can say about it.  

CFjo2010

ldmessing:

I assume k is your step child? nbsp;If her mother allowed it there isn't much you or your husband can say about it. nbsp;

Um, I'm pretty sure my husband has a say in what goes on with his daughter.

CFjo2010

MelRC117:

That would be strange if they would let someone sign K out without them being a known contact. I could be wrong, but I'd assume BM called them and told them.Why was she getting signed out early for a PLAY DATE?!nbsp; I know its just elementary school but I strongly believe that kids learn their routine early on and that parents that let school attendance slip in elementary school is just setting them up to also miss middle and high school.nbsp; Obviously that's more serious, frequentnbsp;cases, but its basically saying "school isn't important....go play instead!!!"

I know the school allows the parents to call in and give approval for someone who isn't on the Emergency Card to do pick up if the child is sick. But K wasn't sick.

Growing up my parents rarely pulled me out of school. Even with my own kids, they so not miss school unless they're sick. I get that there are different parenting styles, but letting a kid leave school early for a play date seems weird to me. I'm really hoping this was just a one time thing. I would hate for K to grow up thinking school isn't a priority.

hopanka

I think what ldmessing meant, if bm okayed it on her parenting time, there is really nothing you can do about it. if it was a full day, yes. But, every once in a while thing, especially during final half hour, when its just clean up time anyway, it really is nothing to get upset about.

CFjo2010

hopanka:

I think what ldmessing meant, if bm okayed it on her parenting time, there is really nothing you can do about it. if it was a full day, yes. But, every once in a while thing, especially during final half hour, when its just clean up time anyway, it really is nothing to get upset about.

I agree if this was a one time thing it's nothing to get too upset about, i even said that in my OP. But K is late nearly every day also. Usually on Wednesdays K goes to someone else's home after school for a play date. My husband is concerned that she is possibly getting signed out early in a regular business. K is already making comments about it not being "a big deal" if she misses school. We're just concerned that K is getting to school late and leaving early frequently, her opinion about the importance of school is going to be pretty low.

MarSamWhitney

Wow, I would def have your H bring it up to bm, and document it. I agree that there not be much you can do- and that is VERY annoying.

Samiantha101

Maybe you have no idea why she was being signed out? You talked to a lady, who you've already mentioned was friends with the ex, so it's not hard to believe that the woman had no intentions to eleborate on the plans.

CFjo2010

Samiantha101:

Maybe you have no idea why she was being signed out? You talked to a lady, who you've already mentioned was friends with the ex, so it's not hard to believe that the woman had no intentions to eleborate on the plans.

It's a play date, what's there to elaborate on? K had already told us she was having a play date after school today, so I'm not sure what you mean by the woman not elaborating on the plans. What reason other than being sick warrants signing a child out of school early?

karatechrissy

I haven't read responses yet... Ali can think is 'I would be raising HELL that some random person can sign anyone out without being on the "list"'. My husband would be throwing an absolute fit. I would take it to the school board. This isn't about a play date, or even getting out early... I don't care. This is about EVERY child's safety in that school. Especially with how crazy our country is right now you would think that administrators would be on high alert and triple checking those authorized for pickup with every child who was walking out those doors. Someone needs to be fired or suspended, and I would demand it. I'm livid right now about this and I don't even know you guys.

danac2010

I agree that it isn't not a big deal unless it's a frequent thing but I would also have a few questions.

Why is the school allowing someone to pick her up early, even with BM calling and letting them know, if she isn't sick? Where was the child she was having a play date with?  How often does this happen (you can figure that out when you get the sign in/out sheet)?  What policy does the school have with tardies and leaving early if it is a frequent thing?

I'm with karate, I would be pissed if I was DH and someone that was not on the Emergency card was pick up DD from school early for a play date.  Not acceptable at all!

lb1212

My DS is in 5th grade at a small private school. I've been on the PTA for 4 years, the last 2 years as president. I know the office staff very well! E, one of DS's friends in his class was a jr, bridesmaid in my wedding. E's mom, R,  was my maid of honor. Their "back to school" registration got misplaced. The school wouldn't let me check E out (at the end of the day) when R got stuck at work. The school knows how close R and I are, but because I wasn't on the CURRENT check out list (we've been on each other's lists since kindergarten), the wouldn't let me take E home! 

Now if BM wrote a note for K to go home with K's friend's SM, then she authorized it. I think that picking up 30 minutes early for a play-date is crazy! I would definitely talk to the school and the office!

CFjo2010

danac2010:

I agree that it isn't not a big deal unless it's a frequent thing but I would also have a few questions.

Why is the school allowing someone to pick her up early, even with BM calling and letting them know, if she isn't sick? Where was the child she was having a play date with?  How often does this happen (you can figure that out when you get the sign in/out sheet)?  What policy does the school have with tardies and leaving early if it is a frequent thing?

I'm with karate, I would be pissed if I was DH and someone that was not on the Emergency card was pick up DD from school early for a play date.  Not acceptable at all!

Sorry, I don't think I mentioned it in my OP, but the little girl was getting signed out as well.