Tucker High School's principal told seniors and their parents that the school "missed the mark" when it came to providing a memorable experience for the students' final year.
In a letter, Principal Eric Parker mentioned additional activities being planned to make up for shortcomings, including cancelled events and flimsy graduation gowns ordered for this year’s graduation events.
"I want to begin, however, by apologizing that these concerns have risen to their current level," he said. As principal of Tucker High School, I take full ownership and recognize that you and your senior children are seeking more from the school as they close out their tenure as Tucker Tigers."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported concerns raised by parents and students with how more than $70,000 collected from more than 300 students was being spent by the school after several senior activities, including a senior dinner and ice cream social, were cancelled or drastically scaled back. In the case of a movie night/lock-in, students complained that food ordered for the event was given instead to teachers the next day as lunch.
District officials said several activities were cancelled through joint decisions with the senior class leadership. Parent Michelle Washington said most cancelled events were called off when students voiced dissatisfaction with either the event or how it was being organized.
Last year’s seniors had more than a dozen events and received graduation gowns with custom embroidery, the high school’s initials and tiger paw prints, for the school mascot, on either cuff. This year’s robe is a basic burgundy, with a lower thread count and no embroidery.
Washington said she reached out to HerffJones, the vendor for last year’s gowns, several weeks ago and told Parker the company was willing to fulfill the order. Parker said in his letter that the school will receive a refund for the purchased robes and HerffJones has agreed to handle graduation garb for this year’s ceremony.
A lot of things are still up in the air, Washington said.
“There still haven’t been any solidified dates for when these (events) are going to take place,” she said.
Parker mentioned upcoming activities, including a Six Flags trip scheduled for Friday, a student/faculty kickball game and a senior breakfast, that would benefit from additional funds not used toward cancelled activities.
"Senior dues that were not used for activities already provided will be applied to these upcoming events to allow them to be the types of activities that our seniors are looking forward to experiencing," he said.
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