POLICY CHANGE PROVOKES PRINCIPAL

A decision Friday to allow Cape Girardeau Central High seniors who do not meet graduation requirements to participate in the commencement ceremony prompted Central High School Principal Dan Milligan to take a stand against the move.

Milligan, who disagrees with the decision and its timing, Friday removed some items from his office. Milligan said Friday afternoon he's not sure he will be back in the office next week.

Commencement is scheduled for Friday night at the Show Me Center.

The decision by Superintendent Neyland Clark, made at the direction of the Board of Education, changes in a long-held practice that seniors complete all graduation requirements in order to participate in the ceremony. Clark said graduation requirements remain the same.

"Students will not receive that diploma until they have completed all the requirements under our policy and state law," said the superintendent.

Milligan said, "I believe that commencement means that students have fulfilled the requirements for graduation. Obviously, I disagree personally with the decision. They are entitled to their opinion and I'm entitled to my opinion. I feel very strongly about this."

Milligan's contract with the school district technically ended May 27. He has remained on the job this week because he wanted to finish the school year, he said.

"As far as what's good for kids, self esteem comes from students achieving something," Milligan said. "I can't understand why giving kids something they haven't really earned is going to help self esteem. We are at a time in society when we really need standards."

Milligan said the timing of the decision is bad. He was informed Friday morning following graduation practice. "I don't think a hasty decision is always a good decision," said the principal.

"I hate what has happened for the students and faculty. I think the timing is just terrible."

Students who are within one unit of completing graduation requirements and can show they are taking steps to complete that course may participate in the ceremony June 10. A diploma would not be granted until all requirements were met.

Five or six students will be allowed to participate in the ceremony as a result of the change.

Board President Ed Thompson said the decision was prompted by a telephone call from a boy's father asking for the change.

"The student was about half a credit from graduation and had what I would call extenuating circumstances," Thompson said.

Thompson discussed the situation with Clark. "I said, `I think this kid needs a break,'" Thompson said.

Thompson said Clark and board member Kathy Swan know the student involved personally.

"We think this is a very positive step," Thompson said. "Letting these kids have the dignity of participating in graduation is very important.

"It was the decision of the board," Thompson said. Technically, the decision was administrative, made by Clark at the direction of Board of Education, he noted.

Thompson said six of seven school board members were polled by telephone and agreed. Bob Fox was not contacted because he was out of town, Thompson said.

"They agreed that kids that close to graduating and showing progress toward completion should be allowed to participate," Thompson said. "We thought it was good for kids."

Thompson said he expects the school board to consider a formal policy concerning graduation exercises. No board policy concerning graduation exercises is currently on file.

"We have these kids hanging out here on a limb," Thompson said. "Why make them suffer for a decision we will make in 30 days of less."

Swan said, "We did not want to deny the student the privilege of participating with his class. I came into this sort of second hand. I found out almost by accident. Dr. Clark and Ed Thompson were talking about this when I was at the board office. Then I discovered I knew the student involved."

Swan said she contacted the Missouri School Boards Association and to see what policies other schools use. MSBA personnel did some research and sent a policy from the Houston, Mo., schools where students who are within two and a half credits of graduation are allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony if they can prove they are enrolled in courses to complete those credits.

"Sometimes we are not aware of some things, and when we are made aware, we take steps to correct the situation," Swan said. "Going through the formal policy adoption procedure takes a while."

Milligan said he never heard from a parent concerned about the graduation ceremony. "If they feel it is so wrong, I would think I would have been called," he said. "I usually get plenty of phone calls.

Thompson said he polled several teachers at the high school and they responded favorably.

Some teachers interviewed Friday by the Southeast Missourian were disappointed by the decision.

Central High teacher Mary Foster said, "I don't have any problem with the decision. The problem is with the timing of the decision -- a week before graduation.

"If you want to change the policy with the 1994-95 class, fine. For this class, they knew what the rules were."

She said students receive a bad message from this decision.

"The students involved here have not taken responsibility for earning their high school diploma," Foster said. "To let them go through the high school graduation ceremony sends a message that you don't have to meet your responsibilities and can still have all the rights and privileges. Life doesn't work this way."

Foster had resigned for the coming school year prior to Friday's decision.

Another Central teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "I have problem I have with this. The high muckety-mucks are too close.

"I've had parents call me in the past and they were crying. They'd sent out the invitations. What about the kids who dropped out 10 days ago when they found out they were not going to graduate? We are sending a message that the rules don't count. This is a perfect example of `It's who you know.' It just stinks."

Another teacher, who also asked not to be named, said, "We set academic standards and if you meet the academic standards you graduate. I feel sorry for these kids, too. I've cried with them and held their hand. But I think it's a lesson for them also."

If the board had made the decision six months ago or for implementation next year, the teacher would have agreed.

"The timing is so bad. This is kind of a last straw. I have a lot of respect for Dan Milligan. We'll be at school next week for the kids. We're not going to leave the kids high and dry. But it's a really unpleasant situation.

"I'm sure these are great kids. But what about the other great kids last year and the year before?"

Chelsea Bowerman, a graduating senior, said, "I think it is good, if they do commit to completing their requirements by a night or summer course. It allows them to go through the commencement exercises with no embarrassment. It could serve as an incentive to the student."

But senior Alison Nall said, "I don't think it is fair to the students in the past who couldn't participate. I think students should have all their credits."

Senior Kim Pulley agreed. "I'm not in favor of it primarily because it is unfair to students who do put in the time and effort to complete their requirements. When students get into high school, they know what is required."

Elizabeth Otto, a 1992 Central graduate, was so disappointed to hear about the decision she called the newspaper.

"I feel if the exception was made for one student, and they knew it would be a problem so they allowed other students to participate, that is injustice. I don't think exceptions should be made," Otto said. "Students know if they don't pass their classes, they don't graduate.

"What's most disheartening is to hear that one student prompted this. If you know the right person you can get something done."

(Some information in this story was provided by Associated Editor B. Ray Owen.)