Final-minute touchdown by Southwestern drops East, 37-30

Comment by Watchdog: Friday, September 10

I knew it - East Jessamine always were Colts at heart!...read more...

Final-minute touchdown by Southwestern drops East, 37-30

Comment by zerovic: Thursday, September 9

Kind of looks like Mr. Stark had gotten bored reporting about East Jessamine in the third to last pa...read more...

Two candidates eyeing Jessamine County clerk seat

Comment by jjhle6: Thursday, September 9

Finally someone else running against her! Joseph Hagen, you have my vote and my support for your cam...read more...

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To the editor,

I was surprised to learn that the track and field state meet and graduation for Jessamine County high schools are scheduled on the same day.

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association publishes its calendar several years in advance. Our students would not be facing this disappointment if the BOE had been doing the same, with all known events filled in.

A proposal was made for a time change for graduation so that the senior athletes could both walk with their class and represent their school at the state meet. Board members Pamela Seales and Karl Smith voted for our students. I thank them.

In voting against the proposal, three board members — Amy Day, Eugene Peel and JoAnn Rohrback — voted to deny our senior athletes the opportunity to be champions in a culminating athletic event of their high school career and still participate in graduation, the culminating academic event of their high school career. They voted against those student athletes who have worked hard for 12 years to finish at the top of their class, and have worked hard for four or more years to earn the honor of a place at the state meet.

These board members chose to make graduation about the audience members, not those who have earned the distinction. They chose to make their vote about, “We have always done it this way,” and blamed KHSAA.

Our student athletes are caught in the crossfire. Their extraordinary commitment, discipline, and countless hours of training while keeping exceptional grades for this very moment in their lives — culminate in a choice with no good answer.

Our student athletes are role models. I want to invite school board members to be role models, too, by reconsidering this poor decision and rescheduling graduation so that ALL seniors can participate.

Barbara Stryker, Wilmore

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