"She really is heartbroken," Eileen Szydlowski told Action News about her daughter. "She really would like to walk with her class."
Behind the Pottstown Stadium gates the commencement stage is coming together. But it appears that senior Shawn Szydlowski won't be allowed to pick up her diploma. She will only be able to sit in the stands.
"I am a senior at Pottstown High School, I was depending on graduating on the 14th with my class," Shawn Szydlowski told Action News.
Shawn, who is college bound, told Action News reporter John Rawlins her goal is to work with the disabled. Right now she is going through 4 days of orientation to be a counselor at a camp for people with special needs this summer.
So what does this have to do with graduation?
When Shawn and her mother were planning the summer they figured graduation would be on June 7th. That was fine because camp orientation was from the 8th to the 11th.
But because of snow days during the severe winter, graduation is now on June 14th. In order to participate in graduation the school says Shawn has to go to several practices: one set for the 10th; one for the 11th; and one for the morning of the 14th. She can't do that because she will be in orientation for her summer camp.
The Pottstown School District maintains the rule is clear: No practice and you can't walk. Officials also add that they offered to try to help figure out a way to meet the requirements.
John Armato of the Pottstown School District told Action News: "The building principal offered to try to mediate between the school and the camp, to see if there was some opportunity to satisfy both needs."
But Shawn's mother turned down the offer saying the orientation was available only this week. Mother and daughter want the district to relax its regulations, given what Shawn is pursuing.
"It's not like I am going to Florida or Europe for the week. I'm helping those in need. I find that really unfair."
But, as of now, the school district disagrees.
