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Whoís allowed at the ceremony?By Barbara Brown The North Branch School board will examine its policy on when a student may receive his or her diploma. After a request last week by parents of special education students, the board said it would talk about the districtís policy on who can and cannot participate in graduation ceremonies. Maggie Van Sant, mother of a special education student who has completed 12 years of schooling with her peers, asked the council for the review. She told the board she felt her daughter was being punished for taking advantage of the districtís transition program because under current policy, she would not be allowed to walk across the stage with the other students. The transition program allows special education students to continue life skills lessons with the guidance of North Branch teachers and aides. The students get jobs, learn how to take care of a home and improve their social skills during that time. The district continues to receive state aid to pay for the program as long as the student in the program has not received his or her diploma. Van Sant asked the board to consider a policy change to allow students like her daughter who have spent 12 years in the public school system with special education and mainstream education friends. ìThese are seniors who should not be left out of the cap and gown ceremonies,î Van Sant told the board. ìThey have earned to right to celebrate 12 years of accomplishment with their peers.î Special education students with individual education plans can decide whether they want to take their diplomas or continue in the districtís transition program. Should they pick the transition program, they do not officially receive their diplomas for two more years. Van Sant said she did not mind that her daughter would not receive official documentation until after she completed the transition program, but she said she hoped her daughterís hard work would be recognized and that she would be allowed to celebrate with her classmates. ìShe has been going to school with these same kids since kindergarten,î Van Sant said. Van Sant suggested North Branch take the style of some other districts across the country that offer students with special circumstances a certificate of accomplishment or similar recognition so they can participate in graduation ceremonies. Another parent, Mary Determan, also asked the board to reconsider its policy. She said the graduation ceremony and parties that follow are important to more than just the students. They signify to parents, grandparents and extended family and friends that their student has accomplished something great and that he or she should be honored for that. ìThese students have been asked to participate in every other kind of school activities,î Determan said. ìThey deserve this.î Parent Barb Anderson said her freshman special needs son may not take the option to remain in the transition program after his IEP tract is complete, but she said she would have a hard time explaining why he would not be allowed to walk. ìEven if he canít actually get his diploma,î Anderson said, ìto see him walk up with his peers when he finishes would be great. ìI donít know how to tell him he wouldnít be able to walk.î Superintendent Dr. Robert Stepaniak said this is not the first time the board has been faced with deciding when a student can participate in graduation ceremonies. He said several schools of thought exist on the topic, ranging from a strict approach allowing only students who complete all graduation requirements to walk to allowing students some flexibility in reverence to families and friends who put stakes in graduation ceremonies. He said the administration will not make a recommendation to the board either way. ìThis is a tough one,î Stepaniak said. ìThe board made the original policy and this board will look at that and decide if it needs to be changed.î School board chairman Mary Jo Ahlgren said she understands the feelings of the parents who want their children to participate in graduation. Ahlgren said the board will talk about the current policy and discuss whether it should make any changes during Thursdayís work session. ©ECM Post Review |