JAY – School Committee members will hold a final reading of a proposed student attendance policy on Thursday that also covers student absences, excuses, tardiness and truancy.

The change matches the student handbook to the school committee’s policies and procedures, Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce said.

It also makes policy more uniform between schools, she said by setting out attendance guidelines for students and parents.

An issue arose in February about the high school handbook granting each student one personal day per year as long as it is approved by a parent. An agreement between the school’s athletic staff and administration also allowed one unexcused tardy per season that permits a student to participate in extra-curricular or co-curricular events on the day he or she is late.

Committee members looked into the situation and discovered discrepancies between board policies and the high school handbook. The committee’s policy didn’t allow for either the personal day or unexcused tardiness.

The new policy, if adopted, would eliminate the personal day for students, Redmond-Luce said.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. on July 10 at the middle school library.

Superintendent Robert Wall said two candidates have applied for a vacant position on the School Committee to replace Nancy Chaney who resigned in May.

The applications are due by July 12 and will most likely be taken up at a special meeting or the August meeting.