With graduation set for this Friday, leaders at Benton Harbor Area Schools are hoping to ensure some students who are just a half credit away from the diploma requirements are still allowed to walk the field with their class. At Tuesday’s work session, the board of education heard from the distraught parents of one senior who is a half credit away. They just found out she can’t walk with the class. Trustee Joseph Taylor wondered if she could do so if she signed up for summer school first.
“”Would that be allowable, to allow her to walk, but not receive her diploma until she finishes summer school?” Taylor asked.
Interim Superintendent Patricia Robinson said she has reached out to other districts and learned they do have programs letting those kids walk the stage or field, and then receive their diplomas after they complete summer school. After hearing from the district’s attorney, she said roughly seven students affected will be allowed to take part in graduation this week.
