Too many school absences?

Are planned absences taking too big a bite out of learning at the Haines School?

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, two veteran teachers expressed concerns about the number of days students miss class.

For elementary teacher Patty Brown, the issue hit home when a parent asked her about the district’s “extended absence program.” The district has no such program but Brown said this week the question exemplifies just how routine planned absences have become.

The…