Brownsville discusses congested valedictorian situation
BROWNSVILLE – The 2003 commencements could be a long ceremony in the Brownsville Area as the district may have a number of valedictorians address their classmates at graduation. Director Francine Pavone first brought up the matter, asking the superintendent what the district’s policy is in choosing valedictorians.
At Thursday’s regular meeting, John Marcolini, local resident, brought up the issue again.
Marcolini said he heard that if there is more than one valedictorian that they may not all be permitted to speak at graduation.
“I know it may be premature. I know everything hasn’t been determined. But I hear you are at a lockjaw as far as valedictorian,” Marcolini said.
Marcolini asked that the board consider that some of the students up for valedictorian have worked very hard and anticipated speaking at graduation for years.
“I ask that you consider what many of them have done,” he said, adding that many of them are student athletes who are heavily involved in other school activities while holding a part-time job.
He asked the board to consider allowing all those who qualify for valedictorian to speak at commencement.
At the board’s planning session earlier in the week, Pavone brought up the matter and suggested the board have an education policy committee meeting to discuss the matter.
“Parents are upset because their children have worked hard,” Pavone said. “We need to go over the policy and procedures because we cannot wait until the end of the year.”
Director Dr. Melvin Sally, chairman of the education police committee, scheduled a meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Superintendent Dr. Gerry Grant told Marcolini that some districts have a policy to address the issue of multiple students qualifying for valedictorian.
She said some districts allow all students qualifying for valedictorian to speak at graduation.
She said while the district has not come up with a conclusion yet. She’s been “leaning toward” allowing everyone to speak for a short time.
“You may have to stay a little longer (at commencement ceremonies), but that’s something we should be proud of,” she said.
According to Saundra Mason, high school guidance counselor, it has not yet been determined how many students actually qualify for valedictorian this year. She said grades are still being collected and a final grade-point average (GPA) would not be determined until the 6th week of the fourth nine weeks.
She said however that there are probably quite a few students with a 4.0 GPA.
“At the end of last year we had 12 kids pushing for it (valedictorian). I don’t know who is still in the running. We won’t know for sure until the last three weeks.”
In other business the board agreed to:
– Transfer $1,500 from the general fund to the athletic fund.
– Hire Jack Beachley as director of the elementary school advanced band at a salary of $600.
– Hire Mary Seelye and Diana Michaels as the extracurricular sponsors for the Best Buddies Program at a salary of $480.
– Approve Vincent Nesser’s contract as head varsity boy’s basketball coach for $2,300 this year and $2,500 next year.
– Hire Ronald Smith, Thomas Kwasny and Matt Crouse as assistant varsity football coaches at a salary of $2,000 per year.
– Hire Gerald Crable as assistant boys’ varsity basketball coach at a salary of $1,200.
– Reappoint Larry Cash as 7th and 8th grade boys’ basketball coach at a salary of $2,000 this year and $2,100 next year. He was also reappointed as the 7th and 8th grade girls’ basketball coach at a salary of $2,200.
– Reappoint Brian Brashear as seventh-grade and eighth-grade assistant boys’ basketball coach at a salary of $1,100.
– Reappoint Gregory Golembiewski as head varsity girls’ basketball coach at a salary of $3,100 this year and $3,300 next year.
– Reappoint Gerald Shimko as first assistant varsity girls’ basketball coach at a salary of $1,300.
– Hire Mark Mammarella as head varsity soccer coach at a salary of $2,200.
– Hire Lori Stogran as middle school cheerleader sponsor at a salary of $1,600.
– Approved a request from James McCrae, league president to allow Brownsville Youth Football Association-Brownsville Little Falcons to use the Redstone football field for their home games for the 2003 season.