Saratoga News

School board holds streakers to punishment of no ceremony

Severity of penalty questioned by parents

Harsh words are spoken

By Sarah Lombardo

It looks as if at least 10 Saratoga High School seniors will not walk down the aisle to receive their diplomas. The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union School District is holding fast to its decision to back a punishment meted out to students who participated in a streak at Saratoga High School, despite the angry objections of many of the students' parents, who think that barring the teens from graduation ceremonies is unfair.

Parents, even some whose teens did not participate in the streak, met with the board May 15 for a second time this month to discuss the severity of the punishment. When board members decided not to change their decision, the scene turned ugly, with harsh words and obscenities directed at the board. One board member's car was even vandalized after the meeting, but it is not known by whom.

"I think [the parents] were very disappointed," said board member Nancy Crampton. "They thought that because there were so many of them, we would view it as the community speaking."

Crampton said that she was not angry over the incident, but "it just left a bitter taste in my mouth."

More than 100 parents and students met with the school board May 6 to protest the punishment. After that meeting, Superintendent Tod Likins altered the punishment a bit, offering students a choice: Miss graduation, or attend graduation and miss Senior Beach Day and the Senior Ball and work 48 hours of community service.

Crampton said only one or two students opted for the latter.

Reported one student in the high school's newspaper, "When I first heard about the alternative, I was excited until I found out what it was."

The April 21 incident involved almost 30 students who ran partially clothed through the Saratoga High School campus in what has become a tradition over the years. Thirteen of the students were caught, and Principal Kevin Skelly said they would not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies, in accordance with a school policy enacted in 1995 after an incident in which several drunk high school seniors streaked not only Saratoga High, but also Redwood Elementary School.

But the students claim it was never clear to their class what the punishment would be for streaking and say that if they had been informed in writing--as the class of 1996 had been-- they never would have done it. Many of the streakers' parents agreed, saying that they should have been notified so that they could talk the issue over with their teens.

"There was a criticism of administration for not informing the parents of the punishment in a manner that would have put them all on notice," said board Chairman Ron Adolphson. "Administration, on the other hand, said they believed that the kids knew exactly what the punishment would be, and that is the dilemma."

But Adolphson said he understands parents' feelings.

"They had excellent arguments. The punishment was very harsh, and I fully understand why they were upset," he said. "But the board felt that [supporting Skelly's punishment] was the best position for the entire district, the faculties, the administration and the kids."

Skelly said that the incident, and the punishment, is also a disappointment for him, but a rule is a rule.

"I really like these kids," he said. "I really like them, but they did something wrong, and they did something with a prescribed punishment. And as such, if I am really an educator, I have the responsibility to the parents, to the kids and to the kids who didn't do it, who are just standing outside watching this, to follow through. ... I will be sorry that they will not be at graduation."

The streaking incident is only one of several events to mar the school year's end.

Almost 70 students' advanced placement history exam scores could be thrown out as a result of a cheating incident in which an SHS student called a friend in Singapore, learned of the exam's essay questions and then announced them to the other students before the test began. The student was suspended for five days.

And May 14, two Saratoga students were arrested for putting hydrochloric acid into a teacher's drink during a science class. The investigation is ongoing.

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