Board rejects push for Smith-Cotton graduation changes, looks at boosting security

The Sedalia School District 200 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday evening to reject a call to move to a Sunday high school graduation to cut down on disruptions during the ceremony.

After lengthy discussion and comments from parents, the board decided to hold next year’s graduation in the Mathewson Exhibition Center in its traditional 7 p.m. Saturday time slot.

Instead of changing the time, the board will look at plans to increase police and security presence at the event, and may include an insert in the evening’s program which details a prohibition on air horns and other noisemakers and states explicitly that guests may be asked to leave the event if they cause a disruption.

“There seemed to be a sentiment that what we should do is hire additional law enforcement for graduation,” said Board President Jeffrey Sharp.

Sharp said he would expect a detailed report on the number of officers and related costs sometime next spring.

The board also voted unanimously to require students and parents participating in the graduation ceremony to sign a pledge that calls for appropriate dress and behavior during the event.

The board also rejected a proposal from the Bingo Athletic Booster Club to rent the Smith-Cotton Junior High School cafeteria, paying the district $1,000 monthly for a minimum of five years to use the building from 2 to 10 p.m. every Saturday.

Board member John Meehan introduced a motion to agree to the proposal. There was no second to the motion and the measure died.

Superintendent Harriet Wolfe said the district would prefer to retain the space as a storage area, and potentially to house some classroom programs.

In other business, the district set the out-of-district tuition charge for students at $7,575 — down $75 from last year’s rate of $7,650.

The board also agreed to a 6:15 p.m. meeting Aug. 23 to set the coming year’s tax levy rate. The board also decided to take up a citizenship contract that would bar students from student council or National Honor Society participation for a set time if a student is charged with a criminal offense.