Isn't any other parent irritated that they are being charged $10 per ticket, after the first four free tickets, to see their son or daughter graduate? This is outrageous. This is the last chance that the high schools will get to gouge us.

Few families can get by with just the four tickets and thus most families will have to fork over the $10 per ticket to allow themselves or their families to witness their child's graduation from high school. Yes, I can afford them and I know there is a scholarship fund if you cannot afford them, but I resent it.

The blame for this charge is being placed on the student governments and yet the items this fee is being charged for are all covered by the school district, according to Board of Education President Pat Phelps.

I am distressed that neither secondary education head Dr. Chuck Eklund nor our school board, according to Phelps, were aware of this charge for tickets.

Both initially expressed amazement, but neither says anything can be done (about it).

The principals at each high school could have vetoed this charge, but failed to show appropriate leadership. When I complained to Westlake High Principal Ronald Lipari, I got a litany of the woes of the schools being poor (and they do need help) and how he had a $6,000 bill for toilet paper on his desk that he cannot pay as he has no funds.

How this connects to the ticket charge is beyond me. It is time that we parents cease following along like lambs to the slaughter.

I, for one, will be at the school board meeting on April 26 to express my outrage and to ask/demand that the board act immediately to prohibit charges for graduation tickets. I hope that others join me. Common sense must return.

Graduation ticket fees are just plain wrong. If this does not change, count on me running for the school board. Lee A. Hess Westlake Village