Parents protest Muffles commencement cancellation

In the midst of graduation ceremonies across the country, tonight a number of Orange Walk residents are protesting one school’s decision to cancel this year’s commencement exercises. We understand that according to a decision by the board of governors of Muffles High School, instead of a formal ceremony, a liturgical mass will be held next weekend and on the following Monday diplomas will be quietly handed out to the students by school officials. The situation at Muffles High School was created when it was discovered that teacher Ismael Teck had printed copies of several diploma exams for some of his students. Those misguided scholars then made more copies, until what is suspected to be most of the hundred or so students of the Class of 2005 were privy to the exams. When the administration learned of the cheating, Teck was immediately fired but none of the students were ever disciplined beyond cancelling the prom. The school then disregarded the exam results and used the third term averages to determine who would graduate. But tonight sources tell News Five that the Board was determined not to let the matter slide, and intent on preserving the integrity of their institution, decided to forgo commencement, even going so far as asking the guest speaker at the mass to speak on the importance of honesty. The board broke the news to a small group of parents at a meeting on Tuesday night and since then we understand that concerned family members have approached Muffles High School Principal, Bernaldino Pech, asking for a meeting with the school board. That meeting will be convened this week with a final decision on the matter expected by Friday. Also included in the wrangling is the issue of the one hundred and twenty-five dollar non-refundable graduation fee, which we understand parents will not get back even if there is no ceremony.