District Cancels Graduation After Suspected Cheating

CENTERBURG, Ohio -- Nearly 100 local high-school students protested their school board's cancellation of graduation after allegations of cheating.

The Centerburg Board of Education met in emergency session Thursday evening and unanimously voted to cancel the 2009 graduation that was to be held at Centerburg High School Saturday, June 6.

The board said the action was necessary after an alleged breach to the school’s computer system by a senior student, which resulted in copying some tests for a senior course, NBC 4's Tanya Hutchins reported.

Diplomas were to be mailed to all qualified seniors next week.

The reason for the abrupt cancellation? The suspected cheating was discovered late and involved, in various ways, many members of the senior class, the board said.

The board said some students participated in the actual cheating while others knew about the activity but failed to report it.

"So the board has decided not to overturn this? They're going to punish every student because of a few?" said Jeanette Lamb, a parent.

The board said it believes there are some students who were not involved and regrets those students will not be able to participate in a graduation ceremony.

"They're taking it out on everyone else. It's not fair to everyone else. If they didn't cheat on a quiz, we should all get to walk, you know what I mean?" said Aaron Morris, a graduating senior.

Morris' classmates protested by appearing at school in their caps and gowns on Friday.

"I go to this school, but I also go to the (Knox County) Career Center in Mount Vernon, Ohio. My name is on a list for cheating when I don't have any classes here," said Leeza Smith, a graduating senior.

The cancellation was necessary, according to the board, to make it clear to all Centerburg students and the community cheating cannot and will not be tolerated and must have consequences.

This is a very sad day for all of us and we do commit ourselves to taking all the necessary actions to see that such a situation as this never reoccurs, the board said in the statement.

Hutchins reported students were set to hold their own graduation at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Centerburg Park on the corner of state Routes 3 and 314 in Knox County.

"Considering I made a promise to my mom two years ago that I would be valedictorian at my graduation on her deathbed and now, I don't get to keep that promise, over nothing in my control," said Aaron Pospisil, graduating senior and class valedictorian.

One parent was told seniors are able pick up their diplomas on their own instead of waiting for them to be mailed. That way they can be used in the alternate graduation Saturday.

Corrections and improvements to the school’s computer system and procedures were being made and tested to achieve the highest level of security.

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