Principal okays eighth-grader's trip to sing at Bush speech in Indy

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- The principal who gave an eighth-grader an unexcused absence last week for leaving school to sing during President Bush's visit to Indianapolis reversed his decision Monday.\nWestfield Middle School Principal Ed Mendoza excused Brianna Tull's absence for the day after scores of people from around the country called or sent e-mails to protest his decision to give her zeros for classes she missed May 13.\n"I overlooked the advantage to the student. I just followed the policy that was written by parents," Mendoza said. "This is one I can say I was wrong, and I wanted to make it right."\nTull missed four classes and part of a fifth last week because she was singing with the Indianapolis Children's Choir during Bush's appearance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.\nMark Keen, superintendent of the district in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, also began receiving telephone calls last week. School officials at first said they did not consider Tull's participation in the event an "educational experience."\nMendoza said another student, who he would not name, also had received an unexcused absence that day to attend the speech with a parent. That student's absence also was changed to excused.\nA group of parents, teachers and administrators now plan to review the attendance policy and recommend changes.