On Wednesday, the Manville School Board met. On the agenda was the public presentation of their budget. After an overview of the current pre-school program and quarterly student/teacher/faculty awards, the Board went into what they indicated would be a lengthy closed session.

Before the closed session, at least a dozen students approached and stopped Superintendent Jamil Maroun, and appeared to be asking him a lot of questions. After about 5 minutes, he excused himself from the students, to go to the Closed Session.

Several of the students seemed visibly upset, and began communicating their concerns to each other and the few attendees who remained in the audience.

It appears the students were upset about the start time for graduation. It has been moved from its original 6pm start time to 1:45pm.

Many of the students expressed concern that their parents would not be able to attend due to the fact they work. The students indicated they only learned of the time change in April, and that despite their many pleas, they felt their voices were not being heard.

"They changed our graduation to 1:45, and a lot of our parents can't make it. And they said they would hear us out, but they never heard us out. And now they're telling us, oh well it's too late," stated a student.

"Not a single senior was consulted," another stated.

"He had a meeting with us, and was like if it is at 1:45, who can make it? And nobody's hand went up," continued the first student.

The student continued:

"Our parents are working 1, 2 or 3 jobs. And they're like oh, just take it off,"

"When in actuality, we found out from the teachers they're changing graduation time to force the teachers to go, because it's within their paying hours so if it's within their paying hours, they have no choice but to go. It's after 6, they don't have to,"

"But the biggest problem we're having with this is why do you care about the teachers? It's our day, and our parents day. Our parents to see all the hard work we've put through,"

"All their hard work is paying off, and you're telling us you rather teachers be there than us having a good graduation?"

A third student mentioned: "At Roosevelt & Weston, as far as I know they're keeping their times the same."

"Yeah, and the middle school.."

Unfortunately, due to the expected long closed session all of the students left before they had an opportunity to speak during the public portion.

One remaining student did speak during the public portion asking why communications previously did not include a time. There was a date in an email, but not a time.

Board President Justina Breen responded first: "So I really appreciate you coming and speaking, it's wonderful to see students up here. I also want to, for education purposes, when we open the floor for public comment, it's public comment. Right? So, we may or may not get back to you, just so you know how that works. We listen to what you're saying."

Superintendent Jamil Maroun responded: "My understanding is that the time was included, and the time was changed at the recommendation from our August meeting when we discussed the potential conflict of the students at Weston & Roosevelt."

Superintendent Maroun continued: "I do know that we delivered that message to 850+ families at the High School and that the message was sent out on August 28th." (via email)

"At this point, unfortunately, we have shared the time of the start of graduation at 1:45. We continue to make arrangements for a 1:45 graduation time,"

"And we have spoken to other families. I know that this is difficult for some families. But we have also spoken to families who communicated to us that based on the information that they received, when the time was at 1:45, they made arrangements for their family to be there,"

"And they made reservations, and rented halls, and other things, to prepare for a graduation at the time then."

Superintendent Jamil Maroun stated he was willing to meet with students, but based on the response, it appears the graduation time is already set.

Board member Mrs. Sharon Lukac asked a question: "I have a question. How many more times after that one letter sent out, was it sent out? How many times did the parents get letters stating that the time was changed besides that one time in August?"

"I don't have an answer to that,” Superintendent Jamil Maroun started to respond.

Board President Justina Breen interjected: "Just as a reminder, we're in public comment, and to be mindful of crosstalk."

No definitive answer was given to Board Member Lukac's question.

There appears to be an impasse between the students and the Administration although the Superintendent did offer to meet with the students to hear their concerns.

Manville's graduation tradition will show that Manville High School would hold their graduation ceremony at 6pm in the evening, and this would be the first time they are changing it to early afternoon.