The Denicore children have been tardy about 30 times so far this year. Last year at one was tardy 68 times and absent 15 says.

(From WUSA)

i think they treat/view schools as free daycare

My child goes to school with Petula's. When late- we head on into class. I have seen her late many, many times (I was late too!) but have never seen her child made to wait outside the classroom crying.

Wow. WTOP says they've been late 150 times in two years:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2736707

I think the Post reporter got punked.

Just saw this on WTOP. Over the last 2 years, the Denicore's have been late 150 times!

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2736707

I'm not a fan of Dvorak and this re-affirms that feeling. I can't believe she's defending chronic tardiness. What if the teachers started showing up late all the time? It doesn't matter how late those kids are, late is late. Three classes get interrupted because of the parents' inability to manage their time. The Denicore's kids may have only missed an hour of instruction each but how about the 20+ kids in each of the three classes? Here's another opinion piece about it
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-parenting/post/late-to-a-loudoun-county-school-see-you-in-court/2012/02/05/gIQAYYGPsQ_blog.html

Anonymous wrote:http://www.washingtonpost.com/local

Petula Dvorak also wrote about them and her comment section is open. She also spoke with them in person at some point.

Wow. Petula disappoints me with this column. She's sharper than that usually.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local

Petula Dvorak also wrote about them and her comment section is open. She also spoke with them in person at some point.

Thanks for posting that link. So, the Denicore's are going to have a full blown trial? I didn't realize both of them were attorneys. If Mrs. Denicore has time to volunteer in the classroom, she sure as hell should have time to pack lunches the night before! Their time/energy would be better spent getting their kids to school on time rather than preparing for a trial.

"Occasional tardiness for valid reasons is not a serious offense; however, repeated or habitual tardiness encourages the formation of undesirable personal habits and disrupts the orderly instructional process of the school. When a student arrives tardy, parents must escort their child to the office and assist him/her in obtaining a tardy pass to class. This is required to ensure the safety and well-being of the student. In addition, the school may require the parent or guardian to provide justification to determine the reason for the student’s tardiness. If this does not occur and documentation is not provided by the parent, as to the reason for the tardy, the tardy may be considered unexcused. If a student is tardy more than 10 times, a letter will be sent to the parent as notification of the school’s concern for the student’s non-attendance, and a physician’s note may be required. If the pattern of tardiness does not improve a referral will be made to the Attendance Officer."

Pack lunches the night before, put the shoes and backpacks together, braid hair the night before, purchase several of the loudest, most obnoxious alarm clocks known to mankind and set them.

The kids all attend the same school! My kids never overlapped but I was able to get them where they needed to be on time AND get to work.

You would think that attorneys would have a particular appreciation for deadlines and punctuality. I would find it very amusing if they are late to court tomorrow. If the judge is aware that one or both of them are attorneys AND they are late, I bet they cough up $500.

Mrs. Denicore is an attorney; Mr. Denicore is an attorney and an engineer. She is a room mother and regular volunteer at the school. The school's policy for tardiness is on their web site and hasn't been changed since 9/21/2007. One site states that her status as an attorney is delinquent and has been since May 2011. Well, her job as of today is getting three children up, dressed, fed & to school on time.

There's also a school bus that stops quite close to their home, if not at their driveway. WTH is so special about these parents that they shouldn't be held to the same standards as everyone else?

If anyone needs to be told by the police to have their kids on time to school it is these people. I am sure a "mandatory" conference or a $5 fine would do nothing to change their behavior.

We have one of the families before in a 3rd grade class. The problem with the late entrance was that it disrupted class. The teacher would take maybe 3-5 minutes when the child entered to open the door (mobile so the door was locked), kid put stuff away, get stuff out, teacher telling him where the class was, etc. This happened 3-4 times a week. This meant that the class was missing around 20 minutes of instruction a week-- every week. The child was finally told that they had to wait in the principal's office until the teacher would call down for him when they were changing subjects.

The mom was really nice and always tried to figure out how the other mother's (who may way more kids than she did) were able to get to school on time. So weird.

Ok, seems a bit contrived that they can't figure out hoe to deal with dallying over breakfast and getting teeth brushed. identify an end to breakfast and throw it away if it's not done. And supervise the teeth brushing or even skip it- not the end of the world. Oh and, about the remote helicopter in the morning, never would e allowed in my house. But then we've never been tardy.

Sounds like the mom has been dropping the kids off from 1 to 3 minutes late a bunch of times this year.

Their oldest is 9 -- has probably been in that school since K. I'm sure she's been dropping the kids off late all that time, so for at least 3 years. Why all of a sudden is it a crime?

I know plenty of people who are always running later. Not condoning it, but some people are just like that. I don't see that they need to bring the sherrfi into this all, for heaven's sake. Just drag the parents in for a mandatory conference, or fine them $5 per minute late or something.

It is NOT criminal activity... running late. Even running constantly late! It is just disorganization.

Anonymous wrote:Bullshit. You adjust your schedule to ensure that you and your kids are where they're supposed to be when they're supposed to be there.

If school starts at 7:41, then clearly you won't be staying up to watch the Top 10.

There is simply no excuse for constantly being late. None.

ITA!! I really think the parents were thinking people would sympathize with their "plight". The sad thing is that those children will probably end up being just like the parents, and think that their time is more valuable than anyone else's.

I've taught preschool, and have dealt with the parents who are constantly late bringing the children in. Some of them were apologetic ("she hates to get up in the morning") and some were not. Many of these same children started complaining to their parents about not wanting to come to school, and I would tell the parents that perhaps if they were there for the playtime we had before circle time, and everyone else was not sitting there looking at them as they arrived, then the child would feel more comfortable. DUH!

I think Loudoun's method of dealing with excessive tardiness may be a bit much, but if that's what it takes to solve the issue...