Seniors’ Placement In DAEP Concludes On the Last Instructional Day Of School, Which Would Allow Participation In Graduation
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees during a special noon meeting Friday unanimously agreed to an amendment of the district Student Code of Conduct regarding DAEP placement for seniors.
The trustees called the meeting to order, then entered into an executive session to discuss the proposed change submitted by administrators. At 12:30 p.m. the school board reconvened in regular session to consider acting on the proposed change to the 2021-2022 Code of Conduct.
Superintendent Michael Lamb noted that change amends the policy regarding “a senior’s DAEP placement, which would normally carry through graduation. Now, it will be over the last day of school, which will allow for graduation.”
The policy regarding restrictions during placement stated:
For seniors who are eligible to graduate and are assigned to a DAEP at the time of graduation, the placement in the program shall continue through graduation, and the student shall not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony and related graduation activities.– SSISD 2021-2022 Student Code of Conduct – Restrictions During Placement Policy
Robert Cody made a motion, which Kerry Wright seconded, to amend the policy as recommended.
The Student Code of Conduct regarding restrictions during DAEP placement now states:
For seniors who are eligible to graduate and are assigned to a DAEP at the time of graduation, the last day of placement in the program shall be the last instructional day, and the student shall be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony and related graduation activities unless otherwise specified in the DAEP placement order.– SSISD 2021-2022 Amended Student Code of Conduct – Restrictions During Placement Policy
The board unanimously approved the amendment as recommended.
The district was asked earlier in the month to consider revising the policy to allow a senior, who has not been in trouble before to but has completed all other graduation requirements, to participate in the graduation ceremony along with his classmates. The student’s family, staff and community members during the May 9 school board meeting said while they did not dispute the student being disciplined for his actions, including not being permitted to participate in any school sponsored or school-related extracurricular or cocurricular activities, including senior activities. They did however, urge the school board to consider allowing the student to “walk at graduation” to receive the diploma he has earned, to celebrate the 13 years he, his family and the community have put into his education and getting him to this milestone.
The change in policy should allow that student, or any student who meets the criteria, to participate in graduation, celebrating the achievement, while still being held accountable for his actions during the last month of school, but not extending the disciplinary action beyond the last day of school.
