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Students and parents press Connellsville board to restore class rank; board schedules follow-up meeting
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Summary
Students and parents delivered extended public comments urging reinstatement of class rank and valedictorian recognition; petitioners say more than 1,100 signatures support the change and the board agreed to hold a dedicated meeting with principals and counselors to clarify recognition and implementation before graduation.
Students and parents used the public-comment portion of the Connellsville Area School District board meeting on Feb. 25 to press the board to reinstate class rank and return to naming a valedictorian and salutatorian.
"It has been 232 days ... we've been asking for you to hear our voices," student Natalie Magus told the board, saying a petition to restore class rank began July 8 and that students and parents have continued to press the issue at meetings. Parent speakers said the petition has more than 1,100 signatures and described protests and outreach to colleges and universities about the importance of rank in admissions and scholarships.
Parents and students asked the board either to return to the prior practice or to provide a clear timetable for action before graduation in three months. "These kids deserve just as much recognition as the athletes," one parent said.
Board members and staff replied that the district plans to recognize academic groups at graduation (summa/magna/cum laude) and discussed making class rank available through PowerSchool on request. One board member said the district would organize an additional meeting with principals and counselors to "air all this stuff out" and review how students will be recognized at commencement.
Speakers asked that, if travel or conferences are approved for staff, summaries be filed with the board secretary; another board member urged robust involvement of principals and counselors in the follow-up meeting.
The board did not take an immediate vote to reinstate class rank at the meeting; members agreed to reconvene with administrators and stakeholders to present how recognitions will be handled and to report back to the board.
