Wednesday, April 18, 2001
The principal confirmed the national organization has three concerns about the local chapter.
By SUE DROTLEFF
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HANOVERTON -- United High School administrators are again taking heat from parents for failing to follow rules.
In February, administrators were grilled about their failure to follow Ohio High School Athletic Association and school rules. As a result, the girls' varsity basketball team forfeited 13 victories for using a player who was ineligible.
At Tuesday's meeting of the board of education, parents raised concerns about the school's selection process for National Honor Society, which they say violates the national organization's constitution.
What's missing: Parent Therese Smith said the school does not have a five-member faculty council to select inductees, as required by the constitution. Instead, a facultywide vote is conducted and the votes are tallied by the high school principal and local NHS adviser.
Smith said she spoke with the national headquarters in Virginia and was told that the principal is to appoint the faculty council members and chapter but is to have no other involvement.
Additionally, United teachers rank eligible juniors and seniors in scholarship, leadership, character and service. Smith said the national office told her that type of ranking system should not be used. Faculty members are permitted input in the selection, but the final decision is to rest solely with the faculty council, she said.
Also, the criteria for induction are to be published for parents and students, and that has not been done, she said.
She filed a written appeal to reopen consideration for eligible NHS candidates who were not chosen this year. Forty juniors and seniors were eligible; 25 were inducted March 19.
High school principal Tony Korzan confirmed that the national organization has three concerns regarding United's NHS chapter:
UThe lack of a faculty council.
UA difference in GPA standards for juniors and seniors. Juniors are required to have a 3.2 GPA, and seniors must have only a 3.0.
ULack of a due process hearing provision by the school in the event a student is to be dismissed from NHS for violating standards.
One parent inquired whether a child who was eligible but not chosen for NHS would be allowed to see the ballot to work on areas that need improvement in the hopes of being chosen the next year. Korzan said that information is not available, but Smith said national rules call for a file to be maintained for each eligible student.
Parent Elaine Brye pointed out that NHS is a national organization, so national rules must be followed. If the school wants to follow its own rules, it should form a United Honor Society, she said.
Brye also said the faculty selection committee requirement would prevent situations in which a student is blackballed.
Korzan said he would discuss the matter with Superintendent Glenn Willis. Board member Brenda Thompson requested that the issue be handled as soon as possible.