Parents of graduating kindergarteners have one more reason to celebrate this June. After a week-long stint of picketing, meetings and negotiations with the West New York Board of Education, parents and administrators were able to reach a middle ground in regards to reinstating the district’s kindergarten graduation celebrations.
“We’re very happy with the results, and I believe we got our point across,” said Jason Garcia, a parent at No. 5 School.
A joint decision between the principals, the Board of Education and Superintendent Anthony Yankovich to eliminate kindergarten graduation had been made over meetings the previous summer.
“We have over 600 [kindergarten] students this year, and to have an actual ceremony would usually have to be during music or physical education, so it interrupts the instruction,” said Yankovich.
Halting the ceremony
Due to the extensive and demanding criteria of the state exams, school administrators and members of the Board of Education felt that their top priority was to best prepare their students as set forth by the Reader’s First Grant, which the schools apply for every year.
“We felt that we needed this time, but at the same time we want to recognize our younger students,” said Yankovich. “Celebrations will take place in every individual classroom [at the end of the year], and the parents will be involved with that activity.”
Parents from all over the West New York school district became outraged recently, complaining that they didn’t know about the cancellation of graduation until a few weeks earlier.
“I found out through another parent and my child’s aide on May 20th at a fundraiser at our school,” said Renee Martinez, a parent at No.2 School.
“We did try to communicate with the parents,” said Yankovich. “Could we have done a better job? We could always do better.”
“We want to let them know we are concerned about this because this is a decision they made without our consent and we just found out about it,” said Blanca Ramero, a parent at Harry L. Bain No. 6 School, whose second child is now graduating from kindergarten. “That is one of the reasons why I want my son to have a graduation – because his sister had one.”
Rising in unison
Last week, a petition was signed by approximately 289 parents, and a protest at the Board of Education was planned for Monday, June 6. But before the protest, a 9 a.m. meeting was scheduled for the parents at each individual school to try and explain the district’s reasons for the decision, and to discuss the planned end-of-the-year celebrations for each kindergarten class instead of a ceremony.
This was still not acceptable to some of the parents, who met as planned in front of the Board of Education to protest. Not long after they had arrived, Superintendent Yankovich brought in some of them to talk about the reasons behind their decision, but no agreements were reached that day.
Finding middle ground
In one final attempt to reach the administration, a few parents returned to the Board of Education offices on Wednesday morning with picket signs, and some of their children were chanting in protest along with their parents.
However, simultaneously, a meeting was going on inside between Yankovich and Jason Garcia of No. 5 School, along with Garcia’s wife. During this meeting, a mutual understanding and agreement was reached.
“He is willing to try to get us the caps and gowns, and it’s going to be paid by the Board of Education, so it’s at no cost to the parents,” said Garcia. “We’re going to get a class picture, individual pictures with the teachers and parents, and we’re going to get to be in the classes [for a small celebration] with the kids.”
The parents and kids started cheering in thanks to the Board of Education and Superintendent Yankovich for this new agreement. Although not a traditional graduation ceremony, the parents were satisfied that it will be a celebration complete with mementos. The date will most likely be set around the 23rd or the 24th, and all the information will be sent out to the parents.
“This was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless for the parents of West New York, and it was because all the parents stood together and united,” said Garcia. “Parents really need to continue to stay involved with the PTO and education, and support our teachers, principals and Board of Education. We’ll always find some middle ground.” K GRADUATES – In a joint decision by officials of the WNY school administration, this year’s kindergarten graduation has been cancelled. However, after parents spent a week picketing and in negotiations with the Board of Education, it was decided that the kids would have a small celebration possibly with cap and gown, and class pictures.