ANDOVER — Sarah Pearson knew she wouldn't be receiving her diploma on Monday.
The Andover High School senior is two credits short of graduation requirements, but says she was told she could don her cap and gown and march across the stage with classmates she's known since kindergarten.
She was already signed up for a summer English class and an elective and would finish up by August.
So Pearson, 18, was shocked to hear late last week that participating in graduation was out of the question for her. School officials said she could come to the Tsongas Arena ceremony, but she'd be sitting in the audience.
"It's really sad. She probably could have avoided this, but who benefits from banning her?" said Lynda McNeil, Pearson's mother.
Now, Pearson and McNeil have circulated an online petition and are lobbying the Andover School Committee to make an exception for a teenager who needs a break.
"We already bought the cap and gown," McNeil said. "Our family could use something to celebrate. Sarah's high school years haven't been easy. It's been hard since she lost her dad."
Her father, Bradford Pearson, lost an 18-month fight with prostate cancer the summer before her junior year. He was diagnosed when she was a freshman. Pearson was hospitalized this year for a kidney infection. She transferred to Methuen High School for a few months earlier this year for family reasons, but when she came back to Andover, her credits did not carry over.
Pearson admits she has not been the best student, but has passed her classes and worked hard given her circumstances.
"I'm really hoping this happens. Education was really important to my dad," Pearson said. "I've had more than 200 people sign this Facebook petition. ... My dad never taught me and my sisters to settle. If there's something we thought was wrong, we should try to change it. This is a one-time thing I don't want to miss."
But with only five days until Andover High School's graduation, Pearson might not be able to bend the rules.
The School Committee does not meet again until June 3 — the day after graduation — and members said they were not planning on calling a special meeting.
Then there is the question of who would handle Pearson's request.
School Committee Chairman Debra Silberstein said any exceptions to a committee policy requires a two-thirds vote. But members only act on requests from the school administration.
"Unless a recommendation is brought forward by them, we would generally not entertain exceptions to the policy," Silberstein said.
Meanwhile, Andover High School Principal Peter Anderson said letting Pearson participate in graduation is out of his hands and in the School Committee's power.
"This is not the first time. There is always a small number of students who don't have the credits," Anderson said. "This has just never been raised before now...We give them their diploma once the work is done."
Anderson is known for driving a diploma to a student once the course work is finished, and posing for photographs in cap and gown. He said he did not know who originally told Pearson she could participate in graduation, but was looking into it.
"It certainly wasn't me," he said. "I can tell you that."
Superintendent Claudia Bach agreed with Anderson's interpretation of the rules.
There is always the chance that a student would be allowed to march and then doesn't finish the requirements.
"I can say this has always been our practice," Bach said. "Often, there is a student or two or three without the required credits to graduate and march; most students do finally earn the needed credits and then are awarded a diploma."
McNeil marched her daughter into Bach's office Tuesday, looking to obtain a copy of the graduation credit rule, but walked away empty handed when it couldn't be found.
Pearson says what started off as just her problem has become her new cause.
"How many people have to miss graduation?" she asked. "How many people are too afraid to ask for an exemption? There are kids in the same boat as me that aren't being allowed to participate."
Pearson said once her diploma is in hand, she plans to attend Northern Essex Community College in the fall and later transfer to University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
"I'm very proud of her effort," McNeil said. "She's now very enthused about what other kids are being denied. She wants things to change for everyone."
Pearson is still reeling from the suggestion that she go but sit in the audience.
"That really stings," Pearson said. "It would be too painful for me to watch something I know I should be in. I take responsibility for the credits I'm short. But I am making it up. I deserve this."
