Student banned from musical

Lonnae Hickman, sophomore, was required via written request to resign from her duties as script secretary for Homestead Theatre‘s production of The Mikado on Jan. 28, 2015.

Hickman was enrolled as a full-time student but recently switched to a part-time enrollment due to medical concerns, according to Hickman. She attends classes during the last two hours of the school day.

According to Section III of the District Handbook, under Policy 2431, any student participating in a co-curricular must be enrolled as a full-time student. The handbook also contains an equal education opportunity statement: “It is the policy of the District to provide an equal education opportunity for all students. The right of a student to be admitted to school and to participate fully in curricular, extra-curricular, student services, recreational or other programs or activities shall not be abridged or impaired because of a student’s sex, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability or other protected characteristics as well as place of residence within District boundaries, or social or economic background.”

The Mikado is scheduled to start performances on Feb. 5 and run until Feb. 8. Assistant director Sarah Mai, junior, is currently being trained for the role of script secretary to fill Hickman’s absence.

“Since Lonnae will not be able to participate in the performances, and especially since the decision was made a week before the opening, there has been a good amount of reworking done. Lonnae’s position will now be shared by the assistant directors, who will have to carry out their other jobs as well as hers,” Mai said.

According to Mai, these tasks include taking notes for the actors and the head director, helping the crew, communicating with costumes and makeup, writing light cues, sound cues and blackouts, giving lines to the actors and calling cues from the booth.

“Lonnae’s job is one of the most important and difficult jobs of the production. She is the most qualified to do it, and now we have been forced to compromise,” Mai said.

In November, Hickman and several other students assumed the roles of assistant directors for the show. Hickman has been involved in four other shows at Homestead as a member of stage crew.

Hickman’s peers have described her as “one of the most dedicated and responsible kids constantly working on our productions.”

Actress Grace Bobber, senior, is currently acting in the show but served as an assistant director last trimester. “Not only does Lonnae’s work here greatly benefit our shows, but she also has a second family here in drama club. As a student of Homestead High School, Lonnae should be given equal rights both before and after school,” Bobber said.

The Mequon-Thiensville School Board, Superintendent and Homestead principal declined comment on this issue because it involves a confidential private student matter.