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Board instructs staff to draft handbook language on memorializing deceased students at commencement
Summary
After debate at commencement, the board asked staff to draft clear high-school handbook language describing how the district will acknowledge students who died so ceremonies remain commencement rather than memorial services.
Board members asked district staff to prepare clear guidance for future graduations on how to recognize students who have died.
A presenter told the board that there had been back-and-forth with a parent about recognizing a deceased student at commencement and emphasized the district’s desire to balance acknowledgment with the formal purpose of the ceremony. The presenter asked Mr. Nadir to draft language for the high school handbook that would set guidelines for memorial acknowledgments and explain to parents what the district will and will not include during commencement.
The request followed remarks at graduation in which staff acknowledged students who had died; the presenter said the board will develop a limited, consistent process so schools can support grieving families while preserving the structure of a commencement ceremony. The presenter did not provide draft language or a timeline but identified Mr. Nadir as the staff member assigned to prepare the handbook language for future board review.
