May 23, 2007 (Page A1, A9)

By Kristen M. Daum

kdaum@forumcomm.com

The graduation ceremony for North Sargent's senior class will be delayed an hour after 15 students threatened not to attend until their three classmates arrived from a state track meet.

The Gwinner, N.D., school's superintendent, Harlan Heinrich, agreed to the compromise Tuesday after students and their parents signed a petition supporting the move of commencement to 8 p.m., long enough to allow the athletes to return in time for the ceremony.

Logan Peterson, Nichole Sims and Ryan Grieger are competing at the state track meet on Friday in Bismarck and would not have had time to return to Gwinner if graduation were held at 7 p.m.

Students and parents petitioned the Gwinner School Board this week to push back the start of the ceremony by one hour, giving the three student-athletes a chance to get home for commencement.

North Sargent has 18 students in its graduating class.

After several hours of discussions Tuesday, Heinrich said each of the students had signed the petition requesting the delay. However, he asked that all parents also sign before making a final decision.

"The entire senior class and their parents are in support of changing the time," Heinrich said. "I want to do what's in the best interest of all."

Heinrich said it was the "unanimous" support of parents and students that made him choose to push back the ceremony.

"I was happy that we'll get at least the hour," Peterson said later Tuesday evening. "One hour is enough for us to get back for graduation."

The three student-athletes will be flying the 200 miles from Bismarck, but wont' be using Heinrich's plane as Heinrich previously offered, Peterson said.

Peterson's father, Duane, said he's proud and thankful to the senior class for standing behind his son and the other athletes.

"What they did today as a class was more powerful than the school board could ever wield," Duane Peterson said. "The kids were more reasonable than the school board, and they got more done, too."

"I thank the school for doing this for our kids and wanting to have them there for the ceremony," said Grieger's mother, Sharie Gottle. "It's evolved to our seniors standing behind these kids and saying, 'We're not graduating without them.' "

The board's president, Terry Euscher, said early Tuesday the board was proud of its students and was trying to find a solution that benefited everyone involved.

"The board is sympathetic to the situation," Euscher said. "We have three athletes which we're very proud of to go to state and they're achievements are wonderful, and I wish them the best."

Euscher added that this year's conflict might mean changes for future North Sargent graduations.

"I guess we will have to possibly look at changing the graduation dates in the future, so they don't coincide with state track," he said.

The Forum asked online readers to comment on whether the North Sargent School Board should delay its graduation ceremony Friday by one hour so three graduates can return from the state track meet in Bismarck.

Here's what some readers had to say:

-- Chad L.: "(The students) have their decision of what they want. They made their beds, now they will have to sleep in them. Life isn't fair, it's time for them to learn that concept. I hope the school board stands firm in their decision on this."

-- Kathy B.: "I plan on driving in from 2 hours away to attend this graduation. I don't care if it doesn't get started until 9:00! Those 3 kids have a right to be there!! It's bad enough that the parents of these kids can't be in attendance with them at the state meet. ... Gwinner School Board - WAKE UP!!! You made the scheduling mistake. Don't punish the graduates!"

-- Donna A.: "The North Sargent School Board members are elected officials that are very community-minded and care a great deal about the students at NS. Why else would someone volunteer to step up and take the heat on issues such as this?"

-- Gary M.: "I thought N.D. was all about community, these kids are representing their community, and the community elected school board can't wait an hour. Good for the rest of the graduating Sr. class on their effort to delay the ceremony. ... Shame on (the school board) - they have no idea what it's like to represent the good of the community."

-- Corey S.: "The school board should get a heart and just go along with what the senior class wants to do. It is, after all, their graduation. Not the school board's. Let them run so they can walk!"