Editor, Commonwealth:
A great leader addresses every issue, no matter how serious or sensitive, to ensure that at the end of the year all students are properly cleared for graduation.
That wasn’t the case at Leflore County High School with my daughter, KyraDominique Kemp.
On Friday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m., I received a call from Cassandra Hart, principal at LCHS, that changed our lives forever. Ms. Hart said she couldn’t clear my daughter to graduate because she couldn’t verify test scores. After we asked many questions, she said she wasn’t at liberty to discuss it, that we needed to speak with the conservator. I was devastated!
I attended all the PTA meetings and everything dealing with graduation. I was never told my daughter was at risk of not graduating. She is an honor student, and all I asked was cooperation to figure out what needed to be done. Administrators are there to make a difference and always be about the business of helping every student.
Shame on all of you who say this is the parent’s fault. Twenty-three days have passed as I write this, and I still haven’t gotten a return call nor a scheduled meeting from the central office, principal or counselor. I have been to the central office three times and left several messages.
On Sunday afternoon, May 21, before the baccalaureate service, I went back to the school, and the principal refused to give me copies of KyraDominique’s transcript. On Monday, May 23, the day of graduation, my daughter and I sat in the main office at Leflore County High School from 8:30 am until 3:30 p.m., and Ms. Hart could not help us. My daughter was heartbroken! Just when you really need someone to help you, they disappoint you in ways you never thought was possible.
Today, Friday, June 9, I still haven’t been able to get an official copy of my child’s transcript. I was told I needed to speak with the principal, but she will be out until this Thursday. However, when I received a copy of my daughter’s final report card, it said “GRADUATED,” but the unofficial transcript didn’t reflect the same.
It’s such a disappointment when you depend on others hoping they are different, and they turn out to be just like what everyone said. Forgiveness is not always easy, but, it’s something we must do for ourselves to move on. People will let you down, but with God all things are possible.
Kassandra Ortiz-Harris
Itta Bena
Editor’s note: Dr. Ilean Richards, the conservator for the Leflore County School District, provided the following response.
I am not at liberty to discuss student and personnel matters in any open forum. However, I can say that I am not aware of a request for an appointment to meet with me from this parent, nor of any student that should have graduated but did not.
Anyone wishing to speak with me may call my office and make an appointment to speak with me if I am not in. I also return calls when requested to do so. On the other hand, if I am in the office and not in a closed meeting, an appointment is not needed to speak with me.
