Schools
Graduation Policy Committee Will Let Community Weigh in on Standards
The school district is creating a committee to consider graduation policy.
The South San Francisco Unified School District will form a graduation policy committee to begin work at the end of the summer
The decision, made by then-Acting Superintendent Adolfo Melara the day before graduation,
Parents and teachers
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The graduation policy committee is intended to give the community more input into graduation decisions. The committee will consist of two board members, administration, teachers, principals, students and community members.
“Anytime [the district] wants to make changes, anyone who is a part should have a voice,” said Board President Maurice Goodman.
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“We want input from as many groups as possible,” said Superintendent Alejandro Hogan.
The function of the committee will be to to review the current policy and send the board any recommendations it may have.
“Every child should have every right to participate in graduation ceremonies as long as it's keeping to the history and tradition in South San Francisco,” Goodman said. “We want to ensure that the committee is following the best practices and is in line with the California School Board Association.”
Historically, hadn't allowed students who didn't complete requirements to participate in the regular graduation ceremony. During the class of 2011 graduation, students who were missing up to 10 credits that they could complete over the summer were allowed to participate.
Board members and teachers already have ideas of what kind of policy they will support.
“If you got the credit, you cross the stage,” said Board Trustee Philip Weise. “It would be good to have a summer school graduation ceremony.”
Erik Migdail, a teacher at , was asked to be on the committee to help monitor the policy. Migdail's student was the first that Melara decided should be allowed to participate in graduation, even though he wouldn't earn his diploma until the summer.
“Receiving a diploma means that you have showed sufficient competency in clearly articulated disciplinary areas,” said Migdail. “I don't think a student should be included in graduation unless they have actually fulfilled the requirements to receive a diploma.”
Adolfo Melara could not be reached for comment.
It has not been decided who else will serve on the committee as of yet. The first meeting will be in late August or early September.
