Mrs. Stewart wrote a letter to the principal about a disappointing experience she had when trying to get a pre-arranged absence for her daughter. Her daughter needed to miss school due to a death in the family. Mrs. Stewart emailed her daughter's teachers and the vice principal to inform them but received an out of office reply. When she tried to get the pre-arranged absence approved at the school, she felt the staff member she spoke with was rude and unhelpful. Mrs. Stewart wanted to make the principal aware so that no other parents experience poor service, especially during difficult times.

1. 5225 Summer Place Parkway
Hoover, AL. 35244
March 6, 2009
4700 Jaguar Drive
Hoover, AL. 3242
Dear Mr. Broadway:
I am the mother of freshmen student, Marise Stewart. I am writing this letter to inform you about a
disappointing experience I had with the high school. On Wednesday February 18th, I received a phone
call to inform me of a sudden death in the family back home in Cleveland, Ohio. I was very upset and too
emotional to gather thoughts. However, on Thursday February 19th , I was able to make a decision to
leave Birmingham on Friday night(Feb. 20th) and return the following Thursday(Feb. 27th). I sent an email
to Kay Carboni and included all of my child’s teachers. I realized the end of the marking period was
getting close and Marise did not need to miss any work. I received an “out of office” reply from Ms.
Carboni. I told Marise to ask at the front desk about a pre-arranged absence on Friday morning(Feb.
20th) when she went to school. I picked Marise up early from school (about 1:30p.m.) and I questioned
her about the pre-arranged absence. She informed me that the lady at the front desk told her that she
could not get a pre-arranged absence; only a parent can initiate this process. Well, I went over to Ms.
Laura Heard and I asked her about the pre-arranged absence. I felt she was very rude and not helpful at
all. She told me that there was nothing that could be done at this point. This is something that should be
brought to the attention of the school earlier in the week. After I explained to her that I just found out on
Wednesday and I sent an email on Thursday, she told me that she can’t read Ms. Carboni’s emails and
what did I expect her to do. Her body language and her voice indicated a sense of unwelcoming and no
desire to assist me at that time. Laura Heard’s response to me was not a “Blue Ribbon” response.
I am so proud to have my child at a school that received two Blue Ribbons. It is unfortunate that some of
the services received by parents and visitors is not that of Blue Ribbon. Marise doesn’t miss school at all,
as a matter of fact, she had perfect attendance until now. Also, I am not at the school often during the
day. Actually this was my first experience during the day. It is unfortunate that my first experience was
not a pleasant one.
The end of the marking period is less than a week away and my child is overwhelmed. She has to make
up all the work she missed in addition to staying on top of the work in progress this week. She has labs,
tests, quizzes and homework to make up. If she had some of these assignments she would have been
able to at least start on the work and get familiar with it and maybe she would have been ready for some
of the quizzes and test. None of this was of no fault of hers, yet she is the one feeling overwhelmed. For
this reason, I attempted a pre-arranged absence for my child.
I felt, any type of action to assist me would have been appropriate. Maybe in the future Ms. Carboni’s “out
of office reply” would also include another number to call so matters will not go unattended. I wanted to
inform you about my experience so maybe no other visitor or parent would have the same unpleasant
experience. (Especially during such a sad time )
Sincerely,
Mrs. M. Stewart
Cell:216-337-1670
Home: 205-733-9007