CHAMBERLAIN - Some parents and students in the Chamberlain School District in southeastern South Dakota want the school board to allow a Native American honoring song during graduation ceremonies next month.

Students have presented a petition to the board and board members have promised to vote on the matter before the May 19 graduation, but they have declined such requests in the past.

School officials say a ceremony led by the district's Native American Club the night before graduation honors tribal students.

The Argus Leader reports that at least one-third of the students in the district are American Indian. Supporters of an honoring song during graduation say it's culturally appropriate.

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