JAY – School Committee members will review two proposed policies Thursday dealing with requirements for participation in the graduation ceremony and requests to participate in the graduation ceremony, if not receiving a diploma.

It will be the second reading for both policies during the meeting that begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at the middle school library. No final action is expected until a reading in February.

The policies are different, and the board will be looking at both, committee Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce said.

“Whatever the end result is, (it) will be followed exactly no matter the circumstance,” she said.

During the past four years, Redmond-Luce said, there has been much time spent on trying to circumvent the policies for exceptions to participating in graduation ceremonies and when made, it has not turned out well for anyone.

She requested that the seniors and junior classes take a look at the proposed policies because they will be followed during their graduation ceremonies and it impacts them directly, Redmond-Luce said.

The proposed policy listed as “Requirements for Participation in the Graduation Ceremony” states it will be the policy for the Jay School Committee to acknowledge successful student achievement and the completion of the requirements of the program of studies of Jay High School by awarding a diploma.

The graduation ceremony is held to acknowledge proficiency and the achievement of diploma requirements and a diploma shall be awarded to students who have met those requirements.

Graduation exercises will include those students who are eligible for a diploma prior to the ceremony as certified by the high school principal.

“No students who has completed the requirements for graduation shall be denied a diploma as a disciplinary measure. A student may be denied participation in the graduation ceremony when personal conduct warrants the exclusion of the student,” the proposed policy states.

The second policy being considered is “Request to Participate in the Graduation Ceremony” and that states that students may be allowed to participate in the Jay High School graduation ceremony if they have no more than one credit remaining in their program and are in good disciplinary standing with the high school.

“‘Walking’ in graduation is not the same as graduating. The graduation ceremony for ‘walking’ students will not include any awarding of a blank diploma or acknowledgment. The awarding and acknowledgment are reserved for those getting a diploma at the ceremony,” the proposed policy states.

To request participation, the student must make the request in writing to the building principal at least five days prior to the graduation ceremony with students receiving the decision of the principal within one day of the request.

School Committee members will also be reviewing for the first time a proposal for a testing and assessment of students policy.

In other business, the panel is to consider a one-year extension of Superintendent Robert Wall’s contract to 2011; a request for $2,000 from the Academic Fund for a Lego League trip to Georgia in April, and an executive session to consider a mediation agreement with the educational technician bargaining unit.

The board will also consider a proposal for the high school principal selection process and an executive session to consider readmittance of a student in accordance to state law.