School allows pranksters to graduate

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BROOKFIELD, Wis., June 7 (UPI) -- Six students at a Wisconsin high school caught setting up a swing set on the school roof were allowed to graduate with their class Saturday.

One of the group was the class valedictorian at Brookfield East High School in Brookfield, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Matt Gibson, the Elmbrook school district superintendent, said the student is still the valedictorian but was banned from giving the traditional valedictory speech.

Principal Brett Bowers suspended the seniors for three days after they were caught carrying out their prank early Wednesday. Because Wednesday was the last day of classes for graduating seniors, the suspension included graduation.

Gibson, responding to an appeal by the students' parents, said he and Bowers decided jointly to lighten the penalty.

"Keeping the boys from graduation will have the negative unintended effect of making the day about them," Bowers said in a letter the families received Friday.