JACKSON TWP — A potential policy change at Seneca Valley could see auditions, and not academic achievement, determine commencement speakers at each year’s graduation ceremonies.

Matt McKinley, assistant superintendent, said at Monday night’s school board meeting that a district policy change will be up for a vote at next week’s meeting.

The policy change would switch the commencement speakers from the valedictorian and salutatorian to students in good standing who succeed in auditioning to give a speech.

McKinley said the current timing of determining which two students earn the first and second academic slots heaps undue stress on contenders at the end of the year.

He said other school districts in Western Pennsylvania use the audition method to determine which seniors will give speeches at commencement ceremonies.

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