County school board delays making decision on high schools’ graduation date

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Student artists whose work was selected for the district’s next calendar were recognized at Tuesday’s board meeting. The calendar represents artwork from every school in the district.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 9 p.m. — The graduation date for Thomas Nelson and Nelson County high schools remains a question mark after the Nelson County Board of Education delayed setting the last day of school.

During discussions at Tuesday’s board meeting, Sara Wilson, the executive director of student support, told the board the district has missed eight days, two of which have been made up. The additional make-up days will be added to the end of the school year, which will set — barring more missed days — Tuesday, June 2 as the last day of school.

And because the last day of school has traditionally been graduation day for seniors, the move would set June 2 as a tentative graduation date.

Acting board chairwoman Diane Berry asked Orr if the board could set the following Friday, June 5 as graduation day. This would be a more volunteer-friendly date for those who volunteer for both high schools’ Project Graduation — which is a free, all-night safe celebration for graduating senior.

Orr said parents and students who want to go on vacation might not want to wait three days after the last day of class to go through graduation. Berry asked if the board could set Friday, May 29 as a tentative graduation day.

School board members and Superintendent Anthony Orr stand with three of the four recipients of the “Expect the Best” award at Tuesday’s meeting.

State law has prohibited the practice of scheduling graduation prior to the end of classes, Orr said, but legislation heading to Gov. Steve Beshear’s desk may give the district some flexibility in dealing with the issue.

Senate Bill 119 offers school districts flexibility in making up snow days in order to complete the required 1,062 instructional hours. The bill also allows districts to schedule a graduation date prior to the last day of class. The governor has not yet signed the bill into law.

After more discussion, the board agreed to delay making a decision until Orr gathers more information about the options available to the district. The board will hold a special meeting prior to spring break to announce a decision on graduation date and makeup days.

In other business, the board:

— honored the students whose artwork was chosen for the district’s new calendar. The calendar will feature artwork from all of the district’s schools.

— presented Expect the Best Awards to teacher Kathy Walker at Bloomfield Elementary School; Liz Mattingly, a nurse at Old Kentucky Home Middle School, Horizons Academy student Judy Lovelace and parent Keyata Harmen.

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