The principals told trustees they do not want students to be allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies if they have not met all requirements to graduate, including passing all portions of the state-mandated Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests.
"It does break our hearts when one has to get pulled from the list," South Hills High School principal Nancy Weisskopf said. "But what kind of message and what kind of precedent would we be setting? Would we be devaluing the accomplishments of the other 90 percent of our students?"
O.D. Wyatt High School principal Steven Johnson said allowing students to walk without them passing the test would take away the incentive to some students to strive to pass the test even if it is after the school year. "We have to make sure that urgency continues to exist," he said.
All but two high school principals were in attendance to oppose changing the current policy. No action was taken. Trustee Juan Rangel said he asked for the item to be on the agenda to show a united front on why the district has the current policy of not allowing students to participate in ceremonies if they have not passed a portion of the TAKS.
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