CODE: 5127
SECTION: PUPILS
COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES
The West Milford Board of Education endorses graduation and promotion activities and ceremonies. The date of graduation shall be recommended annually by the Superintendent of Schools and approved by the Board of Education.
Graduation shall not occur prior to the completion of the required 180 days of pupil instruction.
Guidelines for Graduation Year Activities
Pupil participation in special graduation year activities will require conduct of the highest caliber in all school situations.
Criteria for exclusion from these activities shall include, but not be limited to:
A. Consistent involvement in disciplinary action(s);
B. Suspension;
C. Collaborative evaluation by the staff.
The final decision shall be made by the Superintendent of Schools, based on recommendation of the building principal.
Pupils and parent/guardians shall be given advance notification of these criteria.
Graduation Procedures and Ceremonies
No pupil shall be barred from participation in graduation ceremonies for arbitrary or discriminatory reasons. A pupil who may be prevented from participation and his/her parents/guardians shall be notified in advance and no later than three (3) days prior to the ceremony. Exceptions to this three-day notification may be made in urgent or unique situations.
The West Milford Board of Education reserves the right to deny participation in graduation activities when extreme circumstances warrant it. Such denial shall be treated in the same manner as a suspension, and the pupil so affected shall be afforded the rights of review provided in policies of this Board.
The West Milford Board of Education reserves the right to withhold a diploma and transcripts until all fines are paid.
When a pupil or his/her parents/guardians experience financial hardship and is unable to pay the costs of participation in graduation ceremonies, the Board of Education shall assume the costs of the following items:
A. Rental or purchase of cap and gown;
B. One yearbook;
C. Other, as may be determined by the Board.
Financial hardship shall be defined by eligibility standards for free and reduced price meals under the state school lunch program.
Awarding of Diplomas
A board member shall present a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the amendments thereto, and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and the amendments thereto to each pupil upon promotion from elementary school.
The President of the Board of Education and/or another designated member of the Board shall award the diplomas. Board members and former Board members shall be afforded the opportunity to award diplomas to their own children with the approval of the Board President.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000