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Petition asks board to reinstate SMHS valedictorian, salutatorian

Additional charges expected against bombing suspects

By Lynn Hotaling
A petition drive is under way with the hope of gathering enough signatures to convince the Jackson County Board of Education to reverse a December closed meeting decision to eliminate traditional student recognitions at this year's Smoky Mountain High graduation.

Nancy Danner of Sylva is spearheading the drive to reinstate both the valedictorian and salutatorian recognitions at commencement exercises. Estimates Wednesday morning placed the total number of signatures collected to date at approximately 300.

Though she doesn't know either student involved, Danner said she was bothered by school officials' disregard for the achievements of A.J. Rowell, who was ranked second in the SMHS senior class after fall semester. "What the school board did was just wrong," Danner said Wednesday morning. "If that girl had moved away, then the boy (Rowell) would have moved up. It's just wrong to take that away from him."

Danner plans to present the petitions to the school board at its Monday, Feb. 28, meeting, which will be at 6 p.m. at Fairview School.

The highest-ranked senior, Jennifer Parker of Cullowhee, was slated to be valedictorian; however, she is no longer in school and cannot attend graduation. Parker was suspended because she is one of six facing felony charges in the aftermath of two December pipe bomb detonations that destroyed a portable toilet at the new Scotts Creek school construction site on Parris Branch.

During negotiations with Parker, her parents and her attorney, school officials apparently agreed not to recognize either a valedictorian or salutatorian at graduation. The situation was brought to light by Rowell's parents, Jim and Rena Rowell of Cullowhee, after they received a letter signed by Superintendent Frank Burrell and board Chairman Martha Queen that indicated neither a valedictorian or salutatorian would be named.

The Rowells have retained attorney John Gresham of Charlotte to represent them in the matter. Jim Rowell contends that because his son is the highest-ranked senior currently in school, the valedictorian title belongs to A.J. as it would if the top-ranked student had moved away from the area. Failing that, Jim Rowell said, A.J. has already earned the salutatorian title based on his number two rank, and that honor is being denied him as well.

School system lawyer Richard Schwartz of Raleigh said that since no school board policy requires a valedictorian or salutatorian be named, those honors could be eliminated for this year. Community opinion seems to favor the Rowells, as indicated by the number of signatures gathered to date. Superintendent Burrell said Tuesday that school officials are moving toward a compromise, but the matter remains unresolved.

"We're working on it every day," Burrell said. He declined further comment.

Danner's petition is available at a number of locations throughout Sylva and Cullowhee, including the Speedwell General Store, Hooper's Snack Bar, Jackson Savings Bank and Pressley's Barber Shop. Signatures will be taken through Monday, Danner said.

The petition reads as follows: "We, the undersigned community residents, petition the Jackson County School Board to reinstate the rank of valedictorian and salutatorian at the 2000 SMHS graduation. We stand in support of A.J. Rowell's outstanding academic record and admirable contribution. We see no reason to punish him or to tarnish his record because of the action of others."

In addition to Jennifer Parker, others facing felony charges in the pipe bombings are Matt Breedlove, Travis Shepherd, Josh Haddock, P.T. Parker and Andrew McRae. All were seniors at Smoky Mountain High prior to the incident, except McRae, who attends Southwestern Community College. Another student, a15-year-old SMHS sophomore, has not been identified due to his status as a minor.

Additional charges of felony larceny, felony possession of stolen goods and conspiracy are expected to be filed against two of the bombing suspects this week, said Detective Darren Young of the Jackson County Sheriff's Department. The charges stem from a report of stolen computer equipment at the high school.

The new charges were described as "separate but related" to the bombings by Young, who declined to identify who would be charged.

News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff contributed to this article.

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