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By KALEN CHURCHER kchurcher@leader.net
Sunday, March 16, 2003 Page: 3A
LEHMAN TWP. – Tuesday evening, Angelo Georgetti will once again stand
before the Lake-Lehman School Board to fight for what he believes to be a
senior privilege earned by the graduating class of 2003.
That night, the nine members of the Lake-Lehman School Board will decide
whether to give the go-ahead for an outdoor graduation ceremony. Georgetti and
a group of senior students appeared before the board during last week’s work
session. As senior class president, Georgetti spoke as to why graduation
should not be indoors and presented the board with a petition containing 315
names, including 185 of the 197 seniors.
Artificial turf on the district’s million-dollar multi-purpose athletic
field has district officials acting extra cautious about this year’s ceremony.
The turf just can’t handle high-heeled shoes, said Superintendent Robert
Roberts.
A giant cover for the field could be purchased, but the cost exceeds tens
of thousands of dollars. At a time of cash-strapped budgets, that isn’t an
option for the district.
“It pains me to say my recommendation is to have this inside,” Roberts
said early in the work session. The superintendent later said he’d support an
outdoor ceremony if students agreed to some concessions.
Board Member Sheila Gionfriddo said the problem of high heels never came up
during the planning stages for the field. She believes that on Tuesday night
the board will support an outdoor graduation if students agree not to wear the
damaging footwear.
The other option is to have commencement in the high school’s
nearly-completed gymnasium. Contractor’s are finishing the floor, Gionfriddo
said, and it will be complete in ample time for graduation.
If the board votes in the students’ favor, special plywood will be put on
the field to accommodate the chairs. The cost will be about $1,500. In the
event of inclement weather, graduation will return to the gym.
“Traditions are what make Lehman a special place,” said board member
James Mahon. “These kids should be taken care of.”
Mahon said he originally supported moving things indoors but now believes
outdoors is the better choice. “(The students) have to come first. It’s a
compromise on both sides, but the board should be willing to bend more.”
Georgetti said he is pleased with how last week’s meeting went and is
optimistic about the final decision.
“Obviously they didn’t make the decision (last week) because it was a work
session,” he said. “The concession was very feasible. … It wasn’t
extraordinary.”
Kalen Churcher, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7329.