By DAVID VITRANO

News Editor

RESERVE—When Inger Lewis, parent of a senior at East St. John high School, took the podium at the last school board meeting to voice her concerns regarding a St. John policy, she ignited a debate with far-reaching implications.

She was concerned about a long-standing policy that does not allow seniors who do not pass the GEE exit exam to walk across the stage on graduation day, even if they have earned enough credits to do so.

“Do you realize the stigma you are leaving the children with?” she asked the school board.

She claimed that by not allowing these students to walk with their friends, the board is inadvertently affecting the children’s self-esteem and, perhaps, even turning them toward lives of crime and indigence.

She noted that some parishes do allow this, even though state law says that students who do not pass the test cannot receive state diplomas.

She went on to say that she was not asking that these students receive diplomas but just that they be allowed to march with their classmates.

She then put the onus on the board itself, saying, “Their failure is your failure.” This was meant to imply that students fail the GEE because they are not properly prepared.

She ended her diatribe by making a play on the parish’s motto of “Making a Difference,” saying, “Tonight we ask that you make the difference.”

Although some members of the school board agreed, others did not, notably Russ Wise.

“I cannot go along with allowing someone to pretend to graduate,” said Wise.

He elaborated his position, stating that every child knows they must pass the test and to allow those who do not to march “would be a disservice to every kid who earns that diploma.”

Finally, a visibly distressed Robert Schaff, supervisor of child welfare and attendance, took the podium and implored the board not to politicize the matter by taking a vote.

In the end, a motion to waive policy and vote on the matter failed, but the topic will certainly be on the agenda of future meetings.