KELSEYVILLE — Five Kelseyville seniors who were barred last month from walking at graduation after admitting to drinking on a KCORPS trip will now be allowed to walk.
The Kelseyville Unified School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting June 8 on the issue and, because of inconsistencies in discipline policy, decided to let the students participate in graduation, Superintendent Dave McQueen said.
Stephanie Pryor, 27, whose brothers Anthony and Thomas were suspended, said she believes the seniors got justice.
“I”m thrilled,” Pryor said. “I”m glad they saw the punishment as excessive and I”m glad I get to see my brothers walk.”
The five KCORPS seniors along with their fellow classmates will walk across the stage Friday night.
On the final KCORPS overnighter in mid-May, five seniors and two juniors admitted to having sips of alcohol, Pryor said. Though more than a dozen students had a drink, only seven confessed after one of the students told the teacher.
The board held disciplinary hearings the last week of May. The students were suspended for five days and the seniors were stripped of their privileges, including participating in graduation and grad night. The juniors received a 90-day suspension from school activities. After parent, student and community outcries, the board had a special meeting during which it changed its decision on graduation ceremonies.
Because parents make the decision to allow the students to attend Sober Grad Night, Pryor said the seniors would also be allowed to attend that celebration as well.
She thinks the board made the right decision.
“I think they realized after the fact their decision was a little excessive and they needed to backpedal a little bit and keep the community happy,” Pryor said. “They are elected officials.”
Pryor said the board should consider modifying the disciplinary policy.
“You can”t have an across-the-board policy,” Pryor said. “It”s not fair.”
She said she couldn”t sleep after her mom told her the seniors would walk, she was so excited.
“It was really hurtful to hear they wouldn”t be walking,” Pryor said. “Now that they are, we”re completely thrilled.”
McQueen said the board found conflicts when it looked at the disciplinary policy along with the extracurricular activity policy and other plans.
“The board wanted to make sure the kids were not being punished by a bad policy,” McQueen said.
The board will look at adjusting the policies.
“The whole thing was unfortunate,” McQueen said. “Sometimes unfortunate events can help things become better.”
“I”m happy this is behind us,” McQueen said.
Rick Winer, president of the board, said he”s not allowed to discuss closed session meetings, including disciplinary hearings.
The board will go through and adjust policies so they don”t conflict during open session meetings either July 20 or Aug. 17, Winer said. He plans to go into the meeting with an open mind.
“I think the board wants to have consistent policies, which benefit all students,” he said. “And when we find conflicts between policies, we want to resolve that in a timely manner with the input of all the stakeholders.”
Civics teacher Pat Nunes said he thinks in the end the board used appropriate discretion.
“The board had a change of heart or a change of head,” Nunes said.
He does agree that the students made an error in judgment.
“I just hope in the future kids consider the consequences of their actions,” Nunes said. “Even small mistakes can add up. What appears to be small things, may in fact, seriously affect their futures.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
