Westford seniors lose bid to attend graduation

**lewisipso** · 06-03-10, 05:51 PM

WESTFORD -- David Lynch and Adam Holub will not be hearing "Pomp and Circumstance" and tossing their caps into the air with their classmates Friday night.
The Westford Academy seniors last night were denied in their appeal to the School Committee to rescind a decision by Principal James Antonelli and Superintendent of School Everett "Bill" Olsen to exclude them from graduation after they were caught with marijuana on school property in separate incidents.
Neither were charged by police and both finished their requirements in a dual-enrollment program at Middlesex Community College. They will be receiving their diplomas from Westford Academy, though they cannot participate in graduation.
The pair, their parents and peers pleaded with the committee last night to allow them take part in graduation.
The 18-year-olds were prohibited from school property earlier this year after they were discovered in possession of marijuana. Nine other students, including four other seniors, were also either expelled or "excluded" from school grounds in similar incidents.
"Adam and David, I am going to look at you and talk to you with as much seriousness as I can," Olsen said. "I know you and the four other seniors will be successful in life. Don't let this define your life.
"That said, as superintendent, my job is to keep drugs out of the schools and to keep our schools safe. Nothing good can come from drugs being brought into any of our schools.

After nearly two hours of remarks from School Committee members, Antonelli, Police Chief Thomas McEnaney and residents, the meeting was adjourned by committee Chairman David Keele. Nearly 80 people packed the room at the Millennium Building to hear the duo's fate. It was split with many supporting the two and just as many supporting the principal and superintendent.
"It's over. I don't have anything to say," Lynch said after hearing Olsen's decision. Holub also declined making a comment and quickly left with a group of classmates.
Olsen read a letter signed by more than 100 teachers, school staff and administrators that stated they "stand behind the principal and the policies."
"Where are we going to draw the line? What if it's a small amount of heroin next time? There should be zero tolerance and it should be enforced," McEnaney said.

Read more: Westford seniors lose bid to attend graduation - Lowell Sun Online

**pgg** · 06-04-10, 04:30 AM

Good. let this be a life lesson to them

**keith720** · 06-04-10, 11:16 AM

Consequences. Suck it up, Butterscotch, and get on with life.

**Captain America** · 06-04-10, 12:10 PM

Boooo Whoooo !!

**4 Turns** · 06-04-10, 12:18 PM

FTA: "I know you and the four other seniors will be successful in life."
Because potheads are such upstanding citizens.

**countybear** · 06-04-10, 12:36 PM

**Ducky** · 06-04-10, 12:44 PM

They did what they did expecting to have no consequences to deal with. If you get caught with or having used pot at work, you get fired. Let this be a wake up call to them about the future.

**tapout** · 06-05-10, 04:12 PM

i didnt even attend my own college graduation. i got a keg with some other guys, got hammered, showed up at the end of the ceremony to heckle all my buddies from the crowd, and they mailed me my diploma a couple months later. its not that big of a deal.