The Cumberland County Board of Education decided to table a policy change regarding attendance at their meeting last night. The change would have decreased the number of excused absences from 10 days per school year to six. School officials say a parent note must excuse a student’s absence for illness, college visits, a family death, religious observances or a school-sponsored activity; the excused absence would allow the student to make up any assignments missed. According to the Cumberland County School System truancy-intervention plan, a warning letter is sent to parents after a student has missed three days, whether excused or not. On a fourth unexcused day per school year, the student and parents must meet with a school counselor and teachers. On a fifth unexcused absence, the student is referred to juvenile court and must appear before the juvenile-court judge with their parents. The proposed policy now goes back to the policy committee for review and could return to the board of education at a later date.