I-L board hopes to cut controversy off at the pass by setting graduation date early

MEREDITH — The Inter-Lakes School Board, looking to head off another long and contentious dispute over the time and place of the Inter-Lakes High School graduation, reached a consensus Tuesday night in support of a proposed date of Saturday, June 22 for the graduation of the Class of 2013.

This year's graduation, held at Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion in Gilford during Laconia Bike Week, was the subject of intense debate and criticism over a period of several months and the board gave a strong indication that it wants a decision made soon.

''We're very pleased that you're ahead of the game,'' School Board Chairman Richard Hanson told Patti Kennelly, Inter-Lakes High School principal after she recommended the June 22 date, most likely at 10 a.m. at Meadowbrook.

''A Saturday morning date gives us the most flexibility with sites, as Meadowbrook will not commit to an evening date until after April 1st. In addition, scheduling graduation early will allow families to plan for the event well in advance, '' Kennelly wrote in her memo to Superintendent of Schools Mary Ellen Ormond.

Kennelly pointed out that Laconia Bike Week, which celebrates its 90th anniversary next year, will be held June 8-16 and that while it was possible that graduation could be held during the first weekend of Bike Week that there would still be issues of traffic congestion and scarcity of lodging.

She also pointed out that Meadowbrook's rental fee of $3,000 is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of renting a tent, $4,980 for an 80x70 or $6,540 for an 80x100, if the graduation were held at Inter-Lakes High School or the Sandwich Fairgrounds.

Some families involved with the graduation of the Class of 2012 wanted graduation to be held in one of the three townships that make up the school district, not in a neighboring town.

Following her presentation the board took up other matters but returned to the issue again at the end of the meeting. Board member Howard Cunningham asked Kennelly if she would prefer that the board take a formal vote or whether an expression of consensus on the board's part was sufficient.

Carol Baggely said that she didn't want to set things in stone yet, saying ''I think it's about the students, not us'' and urged more time before making a decision.

Board member Jack Carty moved to bring Kennelly's recommendation to a vote but later withdrew his motion after Hanson suggested that a general consensus would be sufficient at this time.

''At some point we have to have to come up with something that's definite and not drag it out. The earlier we can reach a date and get it out, the better it will be.'' said Carty.

NOTES: One case of pertussis, better known as whooping cough, has been reported in the school district this year. Superintendent Ormond said that a small group of students associated with the case have been taking medication to prevent infection. . . . . . John Hansen, principal of the Sandwich Elementary School, said that in recent years seven of the eight students in the district who had developed pertussis had been previously vaccinated but the immunity wears off after several years and booster shots are needed. . . . . . . Karen Sticht questioned the board's procedure in establishing a teacher evaluation committee composed of administrators, board members and members of the Inter-Lakes Education Association without including all of the school principals. She said it was an ''awkward precedent'' and said that ''principals should have a voice at the table.''. . . . . .The evaluation committee members are Jack Carty and Richard Hanson of the school board, Superintendent Mary Ellen Ormond, ILHS Principal Patti Kennelly and Dr. Steven Kelley, PK-4 principal. ILEA members are Jeremy Hillger, Chuck Yeager, Demi Daly, Stephanie Howard, and Mary Nyhan.