Schools

School Board Upholds Graduation Ceremony Participation Policy

Paulding high school seniors who have not passed all parts of the Georgia High School Graduation Test will not be able to walk across the stage at graduation following the board's action Tuesday. Board members also approved an amended 2011-2012 school cal

The biggest takeaway from tonight’s meeting is that Paulding high school seniors who have not passed all parts of the Georgia High School Graduation Test will not be able to walk across the stage during this month’s graduation ceremonies.

That decision comes in the form of the board’s 5-2 vote to uphold policy IKDB, which covers graduation ceremonies. The policy states: "Only those students who have met graduation requirements for a diploma as established by Board Policy IHF - HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS, shall be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. Students shall be awarded diplomas from the high school at which graduation requirements are met." One of those graduation requirements is passage of the Georgia High School Graduation Test.

Perhaps lost in tonight’s discussion and action regarding graduation participation requirements was the board’s approval of an amended 2011-2012 calendar. For pupils and their families, the impact of the new calendar is twofold, but perhaps ultimately minor.

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The first change will move the start of the school year from Monday, Aug. 1, to Wednesday, Aug. 3. The other change designates the Feb. 20-24 winter break as inclement weather make-up days should the district need to use any or all of the holidays. The district following January's snow and ice, which kept students away from school for an entire week.

Below is a timeline of our tweets on our Twitter account, @DallasPatch, which chronicled tonight’s meeting.

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We’ve also included with this article a video reaction from an affected student following the board’s decision on graduation ceremonies; the district's previous and newly approved 2011-2012 calendar, the approved five-year facilities plan and the system's policy on graduation ceremonies. Also for your viewing pleasure is a video from the April 26 meeting of Superintendent Cliff Cole talking about the 2011-2012 calendar and how budgetary factors may affect that.

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10:48 p.m. And they're back. Personnel and legal matters discussed in closed session. First slate of personnel actions approved. More personnel actions approved, and then that's it.

10:33 p.m. Board members still in closed session. We're still here as well.

10 p.m. Added to this article video reaction from Hiram High senior Miranda Graves regarding the board's decision. Board members remain in closed session.

9:31 p.m. We stepped outside to get reaction, and we've got one affected student's take. We'll have that for you within half an hour. In the meantime, board members are in closed session right now.

9:11 p.m. 5-2 vote to uphold the current policy. Theresa Lyons and Nick Chester vote against. In short, Paulding seniors who have not passed all parts of the Georgia High School Graduation Test will not be able to walk across the stage at graduation later this month.

9:09 p.m. Board member Sammy McClure: We have to have standards in place.

9:06 p.m. Skelton: No matter the test in question, the issue discussed here is the child is not walking across the stage.

9:01 p.m. Board member Kim Cobb: We don't need a "once and for all" action here, b/c change in state law could require this to be revisited.

8:59 p.m. Chester's motion dies for lack of second.

8:58 p.m. To clarify: Chester motions to amend board member Kim Curl's motion to approve Cole's proposal to keep graduation participation policy as is.

8:57 p.m. Board member Nick Chester makes motion for Cole to create an appeal process re: graduation ceremony participation.

8:56 p.m. Board member Kim Curl: We go over this policy each year. Comment draws some outbursts from the crowd; board Chairman Michael Skelton calls for order.

8:55 p.m. Cole said he can't say right now he'd propose a change of the policy at the Aug. 9 meeting, but that if a change is to happen, the change should be made at the top of the school year.

8:48 p.m. Superintendent Cole's recommendation is to uphold the policy, which would mean those who haven't passed GHSGT would not walk at graduation. Cole also wants the policy revisited at board meeting in August.

8:45 p.m. Hearing about district's efforts in the areas of tutoring, credit recovery and more.

8:40 p.m. Current predicted number of Certificate of Performance recipients (those who haven't met all grad requirements): 109.

8:30 p.m. Susan Browning, executive director for secondary schools, says not every student qualifies for a GHSGT variance.

8:25 p.m. And we're back.

8:18 p.m. Had a couple of board members comment (we'll try to incorporate in our video coverage), but no decision yet. We're now in a 5 min. recess.

8:10 p.m. Board Chairman Michael Skelton asks if the board should amend the policy just for those who haven't passed GHSGT, or should the policy be amended to allow those missing a credit or credits to walk?

7:54 p.m. New speaker: If students who fail parts of the 3rd-, 5th- or 8th-grade CRCT can participate in end-of-year activities, why can't seniors?

7:43 p.m. Next speaker is saying the social studies portion of the GHSGT has been the hurdle for most affected students. Side note: I'm shooting video of the speakers during this public participation portion. Will put together what I shot for tomorrow's follow-up coverage.

7:37 p.m. Next speaker: A lot of these affected students have excellent attendance, have been to help sessions but still can't pass the test. Some affected students are even dual-seal students, so they've gone above and beyond educational requirements.

7:32 p.m. Second speaker: Students only get one chance to walk with their classmates. Families have spent $ on invitations, caps and gowns. Family members have already made plans to come to graduation ceremonies.

7:29 p.m. Applause from the audience after our first speaking who is in favor of letting students walk despite not passing all of the GHSGT.

7:22 p.m. We're now in the public comment portion of the meeting.

7:21 p.m. Also receiving approval: field trip requests and minor revision to policy IHE on promotion and retention.

7:18 p.m. Amended calendar receives unanimous approval. It too is attached to this article.

7:15 p.m. Superintendent Cliff Cole is now speaking on the calendar amending. He is proposing an amended 2011-2012 that trims just two days from the 180-day schedule. Only real impact on students is move of start of school from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3.

This proposed 178-day calendar compares to this year's 176-day calendar. The new calendar also would make winter break weather make-up days if needed.

7:09 p.m. Receiving board approval is resolution certifying completion of W.C. Abney Elementary.

7:07 p.m. Correction: Public participation moved up, but should be before the graduation ceremony rule discussion.

6:59 p.m. We're on the tail end of recognitions. Public participation will be next, as it was moved up in the meeting.

6:43 p.m. We're in the midst of student and staff recognitions in a meeting that was standing room only even before the 6:15 start time. Beginning to clear out as recognized leave.


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