PETERSBURG -- A decision made last week to change the time for Petersburg High School's June 6 graduation from evening to morning has angered and upset some parents.

The change "penalizes students' parents for working," Alfreda Payne, the mother of a prospective graduate, told the city School Board yesterday. "This is what changing graduation time from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. would do."

Payne said she has petitions with 250 signatures of parents who want the graduation time changed back to 6 p.m., and she hopes to have at least 1,000 signatures by Monday to submit to school Superintendent James M. Victory.

Parents and students were not notified of the change, she told the board, and she can't get off work. She also said she would want a refund for $304.50 for graduation invitations already printed, because now "they are useless."

Victory declined to explain to a reporter why the change had been made.

A group of residents also spoke on policy revisions that included student dress and grooming, conduct on school buses and suspension or expulsion.

Edwin M. Betts Jr., school policy consultant, presented two versions of a dress code for elementary and middle school students. A prohibition on designer clothes has been struck, but clothing displaying any indication of illegal substances will not be permitted.

The School Board is expected to vote on the revisions at Wednesday's 6 p.m. meeting at the School Board offices.
Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or jlizama@timesdispatch.com.