Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott Board Reverses Graduation Requirements

Seniors planning to walk at Prescott High School's graduation ceremonies had better meet all the requirements.

The Prescott School board at its regular meeting March 22 reversed a previous decision and now require all graduates to have a 1.75 grade point average and 29 credits.

Superintendent Ron Wright said the original change generated a lot of controversy in the community.

However, he said, the district's intent was misunderstood by the public, which resulted in a lot of comments being made.

There were 15 students involved at the time the policy was changed in January. This number dropped to four, who are not on track to graduate at the end of the year.

Student grades were tracked back to 1990, with the findings showing no students would have met the criteria for the initial policy change during this time.

Board President Rick McGough said a can of worms had been opened, but the board realized there would be few who would benefit from the change, which was then rescinded.

McGough said there could have been students, though, who might have tried to take advantage of the policy change.

At the February board meeting members of the student body appeared, asking the board to rescind the policy change as it would be unfair for those who didn't earn the right to participate in the ceremonies.

In fact the students took a poll with the majority opposing the change and favoring those who receive diplomas earning them.