Austin Fisher, senior at a North East Ohio school, is being denied his right to walk at graduation this year. Why? He has missed too many days at school. Why? His mother's breast cancer returned and is now at stage 4. He picked up two jobs to help with expenses and takes her to and from treatments. Even with this extreme circumstance, he has kept up with his school work and has gone to school on days that he could. The administrators at the high school are REFUSING to allow him to walk at graduation. They also banned him from senior prom and other activities.

His mother has been a huge part of the community, owning and managing restaurants and cafes, and participating in the Relay for Life walkathons hosted every year. Teresa has been battling this horrible disease for several years and without the help of her son, making the way to treatments and living day to day in normalcy would not have been as possible.

The local community surrounding this incident have started a petition at change.org and have began raising money, along with selling tshirts. Teens at the school have even started a facebook page, "Let Fish Walk".

School officials feel this is a reasonable punishment, considering he had missed over the amount of days of unexcused absences. He missed 16 and the limit if 14. And the argument is valid that he could've asked permission and if he explained the situation to the school officials, they would've worked with him. The school board will be meeting Tuesday to discuss whether he should be allowed to walk at graduation.

This is not the first time Carrollton High School (Carroll County) has gone too far. The officials have a reputation around the area for their unwillingness to make exceptions in dire circumstances. But this situation is unbelievable.

The links to the petition, along with the facebook page and news stories, which has more information. Hopefully with enough support, we can right this wrong of the administrators at this school district.

Change.org Petition

http://www.change.org/petitions/carrollton-exempted-schools-allow-austin-fisher-to-walk-and-graduate-with-his-2012-class#

Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/281683671915631/

Fox 8 News

http://fox8.com/2012/04/13/teen-who-cared-for-sick-mom-not-allowed-at-graduation/