A group of parents, along with their children, waged an
11th-hour attempt Thursday morning to have the students graduate
that night.
The plea from the group of about 10, which occurred at a
Bradford Area School Board meeting, was thwarted by school
officials.
The exchange, which was heated at times, included parents
wondering why the students couldn’t graduate and the administration
explaining that the work wasn’t done.
One mother said her daughter had enough credits to graduate, but
had failed one of the Core English classes.
Another student said he tried to make up the work he was
missing, but the English teacher, Dennis Morrisroe, wouldn’t let
the student make up the work. They said Morrisroe admitted to
having high standards and didn’t apologize for them. The parents
thought otherwise.
“There’s a high rate of kids failing,” one parent said. “He’s
not letting the kids be successful.”
The parents said they had also tried to get the kids out of
Morrisroe’s class throughout the year, but were not fruitful.
One parent attacked the notion of “No Child Left Behind,” a
federal program implemented to make sure all children receive a
quality education.
“Our children have been left behind,” she said.
“Your teachers have to teach them, not fail them,” one parent
said. “It’s not fair to put the kids who had problems in the past
in with the most difficult teacher.”
The students all agreed that they would go to summer school, but
wanted to take part in Thursday night’s graduation ceremony.
“We want them to walk across the stage,” one parent said.
In the end, however, the school administration said there wasn’t
much for them to do now.
Superintendent Sandra Romanowski said this was a clear case of
the students didn’t do the work assigned.
“The work wasn’t done. The kids didn’t complete the work,” she
said. “The work has to be completed in a satisfactory manner to
complete the class.”
When the subject was broached that the students participate in
graduation, but receive a blank diploma, Romanowski said the
“diploma must be earned” and it would do the other students a
disservice to allow the students to participate who didn’t finish
the work.
One student questioned a foreign exchange student being allowed
to graduate, but she couldn’t. Romanowski said that was a courtesy
they extend to foreign exchange students who either have or will
complete the requirements in their home country.
Romanowski also said the teacher has the final word on what
grade a student receives, according to the teacher contract. There
is an appeal process where Romanowski, the president of the
Bradford Area Education Association and a third party hear the
case.
When the parents asked why the students couldn’t be moved to
another class, Romanowski said it was not fair for one teacher to
have 50 students and the other 10.
Neither Morrisroe nor High School Principal Ken Coffman were at
the meeting.
“Passing class is not a gift, it must be earned. Graduation in
not a gift, it must be earned,” Romanowski said. “It’s not fair to
the other students.”
Although some of the students tried to make up the time in a day
or two, Romanowski said that is not the same as nine weeks of
instruction.
When the students and teachers even questioned if their grades
were right, Romanowski said. “I have given you the appeal
process.”
Board member Rich Roupe then suggested the meeting be adjourned,
and one parent said, “The system failed us again.”
After the motion was seconded, another said, “they don’t
care.”
“Thank you,” one parent said as he left the room. “Glad we are
paying our taxes.”
Board members also unanimously passed a resolution for the
purchase of 2007 General obligation bonds to refund the 1998
general obligation bonds.
What the district may receive from this transaction depends on
the market. It could make as much as $500,000.
