Summit Schools Ban Unannounced Parent Visits

The days of dropping off forgotten homework and gym clothes to your kids is over in Summit. 

In a letter sent to district parents last Friday, Superintendent Nathan Parker said parents will no longer be able to drop in “unannounced” to visit their children or drop off any forgotten items beginning in September. Students will get IOUs if they forgot their lunch, but will suffer the consequences for forgotten classroom supplies and assignments.

Parker said as many as 400 people visit Summit High School every day and many of them are parents bringing items from musical instruments and athletic equipment to lunches and homework to their kids. Many other parents “drop in” in the middle and elementary schools regularly.

“After speaking with principals, teachers and parents, we have come to a decision that we must eliminate as many unannounced visitors to the schools as possible,” Parker said in the letter to parents. 

“Not only will eliminating these visits help to keep the schools safer by lessening the number of individuals gaining access to the buildings, but it also will help engrain responsibility into the students and transfer the ownership to them. By forgetting lunch, homework or athletic gear once and not having it brought to them, students will learn accountability.”

Karen Greco, Communications Specialist for the school district, said district administrators are always looking for ways to improve the safety of students and staff, which is their number one priority.

Since the letter was sent out, Greco said the district has received “both positive and negative feedback.”

“This is an opportunity to reinforce responsibility during school hours and there is appreciation for that as well as for creating a secure environment,” Greco said in an email.

Greco told Patch that this is not a Board of Education policy and that it was an “administrative decision made after committee discussions.”

“The committee was made up of Dr. Parker, three principals and four parents — from each level — elementary, middle and high school,” Greco said.

In addition to “drop ins” and “drop offs” no longer being allowed, appointments will now have to be made to see any teachers, administrators or staff members. Plus, parents must submit a note about picking up children to the attendance secretary at the middle and high schools, and to the teacher at the elementary schools, the day before. However, if a note is forgotten, a phone call must be made to the main office before any child is picked up.

Greco told Patch that this is a procedure that will be implemented with common sense.

“This is not to say we don't want parents involved or in our schools,” Greco said in an email. “We simply want to lessen the drop offs of forgotten items and other unplanned visits throughout the school day.”

What do you think of the Summit School District's decision to ban unannounced visitors? Please share your comments below.