In the wake of last week’s uproar over the Bonny Eagle High School graduation, parents and students last night said Superintendent Suzanne Lukas should apologize and step down as the top administrator in School Administrative District 6.
In her first public statements since the criticism of her actions in not handing a student his diploma, Lukas offered neither an apology nor her job, and residents at a school board meeting last night left saying the situation may have gotten only worse.
The meeting was called to give the school board an opportunity to discuss the events of the graduation, at which Lukas refused to hand a diploma to student Justin Denney after he bowed and blew a kiss to his mom in the crowd. Denney’s actions came after Lukas had warned students not to misbehave following the appearance of some beach balls and an inflated rubber duck, as well as some shouting from the audience.
The school board ended the meeting with a vote to create a committee of parents, teachers, administrators and students that will look at the expectations for future graduations. Chairman David Hopkins will also soon set a date for a review of the superintendent’s job performance.
But the crowd of almost 350 people at Bonny Eagle Middle School Monday night was there seeking immediate action.
“We believe the school board has to listen to the public and ask the superintendent to step down,” said Linda Sabourin of Standish to a large round of applause near the end of the four-hour meeting.
Lukas began the meeting with a statement, her first since she updated the board on the events of graduation during a meeting last Monday. The next day, Denney’s story hit the media, and was soon being discussed on Web sites and radio stations across the country.
The superintendent said the board created a clear code of conduct after the graduation in June 2005 was interrupted by beach balls and silly string. She said a handful of students willfully disobeyed contracts signed before graduation, and audience members, including parents, reinforced the behavior by yelling when Lukas tried to restore order.
She called the boos and catcalls disrespectful and alarming, and said the actions of the students and parents led to an unsafe atmosphere during the ceremony at Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.
When Denney took the stage after his name was called, then pulled out a homemade cord meant to celebrate his team’s track victory before blowing the kiss and bowing, Lukas said she had to act.
“I couldn’t just let it go because it was bound to escalate, just like it did in 2005,” she said.
But speaker after speaker at Monday’s meeting took to the podium to dispute Lukas’ version of the events. They said it was the superintendent who turned harmless and insignificant teenage hijinks into a huge problem, first by asking a deputy to remove students, then through her tone of voice and stern demeanor, and, finally, her treatment of Denney.
As the meeting went on, the anger and frustration in the crowd only grew as it became clear no action would be taken against Lukas that night. The board members, unable to discuss personnel issues, would not comment on Lukas’ actions directly, and could not discuss her future with the district.
But parents at the meeting said it seemed impossible that the superintendent could lead the district into the future following the events at graduation.
“I don’t see how she can do that effectively,” said resident John Majkut.
Bonny Eagle High School students march into the Cumberland County Civic Center during last week’s graduation. The ceremony was marred by a conflict between Superintendent Suzanne Lukas and a student, Justin Denney, who bowed to the crowd while walking to receive his diploma.
Early in Monday’s SAD 6 school committee public hearing, Brian Labreck of Standish leads the applause as school committee member Rebecca Bowley reads an email criticizing the handling of last Friday’s Bonny Eagle High School commencement ceremony.
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