School OKs Diploma for Student Who Died

Officials of Bonita High School in La Verne relented Friday after a protest by students demanding that a senior who died during the winter break be honored at graduation ceremony.

Blair Johnson died from an inflammation of her heart muscle while on a ski trip in December. An honors student, she had one semester of English left to earn her diploma. Citing district rules, Principal Robert Ketterling had earlier declined to issue a diploma to her family.

He changed his mind after about 70 seniors chanted “Be fair, honor Blair” outside the school early Friday and during lunch time.

“I made a mistake,” Ketterling said. “This was a special case. It was never my intent to cause this family this much pain.”

Bonita Unified School District policy provides that a student who is no more than five credits short of fulfilling requirements may participate in graduation ceremonies without receiving a diploma. It leaves exceptions to the discretion of the superintendent or a designee.

The students met with Ketterling Friday morning, and he then met with Sabrina Johnson, Blair Johnson’s mother, as the protesters headed back to their classrooms.

Soon after, Ketterling announced that Blair Johnson’s name will be read with other students’ at graduation. Kelsey Weaver, Blair Johnson’s best friend, will pick up the honorary diploma.

“I’m really happy it ended,” Weaver said. “I’m still disappointed that it came to this.”