FAIRFIELD (AP) – Students at Lawrence High School are circulating a petition asking administrators to allow the sister of a student killed in a car crash to accept his diploma at the school’s graduation ceremony.

Eighty-eight students had signed the petition as of Tuesday asking why Elizabeth Violette isn’t being allowed to pick up the diploma for her brother, Joseph Violette of Clinton, who had earned the credits necessary to graduate before he died in the January crash.

School Administrative District 49 board members refused to let Elizabeth Violette accept her brother’s diploma at the June 10 ceremony.

The board last month adopted a policy that requires diplomas of deceased students to be awarded only in a private ceremony with the family. The policy forbids any personalized participation by family and friends at graduation to memorialize deceased students.

Students who have signed the petition said Joe Violette earned the diploma, and that his family and friends deserve the chance to celebrate his achievement.

“The family is not asking for a big ceremony, or even a big speech, just a simple walk,” the petition reads. “Let’s give Joe’s family the graduation they deserve.”

Charles Littlefield of Benton, a lifelong friend and classmate of Joe Violette, said he signed the petition.

“I want it to happen. I would have signed my name a million times to have it happen, (but) there’s only so much you can do being a student,” he said.

Kathy Tucker, the mother of Joe Violette, says the school board is trying to pretend that nothing happened. She says it is better to acknowledge the death of her son at the graduation than to ignore it.

Steven Grenier, chairman of the SAD 49 board, said the board consulted with the Center for Grieving Children in Portland and ran the policy by Susan Gendron, the state commissioner of education. Graduation is for graduating seniors and the board’s policy is firm on that point, he said.

“Our policy met our goal to be respectful to all parties concerned,” Grenier said. “We tried to be respectful for all parties – the parents, the students – and I think this policy does that. We send our condolences.”