Why No Alternate Plan for Dixon High Graduation?

Almost as soon as news broke that graduation was due to weather concerns, the community was buzzing with conversations over the school’s decision to postpone the ceremony until Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Perhaps the comment made most on the pages of Dixon Patch related to the lack of an alternate venue or “Plan B,” for the graduation.

Here is what some of our readers said:

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“When they said the graduation ceremonies would be held rain or shine, the school left themselves in a non-bargaining position. I don't blame everyone for being upset-- all those folks came to the stadium armed with umbrellas and smiles on their faces. A rubber walkway mat could have been thrown down on the stage, volunteers could be stationed on either end of the stage to assist with the steps and a small portable covering over the podium surely wouldn't have been a problem. I give the school district boneheads an F on this one." – Clifton B. Schell

“Should have had a back up plan, the old High School gym? Never advise rain or shine if you do not plan on following through with it.” – Scott Smith

“The decision to postpone the ceremony 30 minutes prior to the event demonstrates poor planning, and poor decision making. Lessons we would not expect our school administrators to teach our children. Rather, the lesson the graduating class could have been taught would have included determination, commitment, creative problem solving, adaptability, fortitude, and resilience. The ceremony could have been held elsewhere, perhaps the fair grounds, or it could have been staggered and held in the gym. There no excuse for not having a contingency plan as the rain was forecast for several days. Apparently the problem was too hard for the school staff to solve and a bunch of kids are let down as a result. Not to mention the relatives that traveled from far away places to attend the event. I wonder how many kids will now not be able to attend because they made plans that they will stick with!” - Bob Cannova

“My question is -- why in the heck didn't they have a back-up plan? For an event this big -- HOW DARE THEY TO NOT HAVE ONE!??!! I know that there is a gym -- somewhere where they could have gone. Or even a huge church auditorium somewhere. For goodness sakes it doesn't even need to be IN Dixon. Anywhere in Solano County would have been fine. So many students had family coming from out of town -- they'd been looking forward to this event all year. One more reason to be annoyed with Dixon schools. UGH.” -  Wayne & Liz Haugen

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Many of the students were let down. Some said they would not be in town for the graduation, already having bought their plane tickets for vacations planned months in advance.

The school had a decision to make – should it allow the graduation to continue and risk the safety of their students and their guests or postpone it for a more favorable day? Dixon High’s Stadium field was flooded, muddy and miserable. Its stage was slippery from all the rain. The chance of forecasted thunderstorms made the decision to postpone the ceremony a no-brainer for the school.

The school made the right decision.

Everyone would have been wet, cold, and probably waiting for the ceremony to end as quickly as possible so they could get out of the rain. It would have taken away from the symbolic meaning and the graduates’ moment to shine if all anyone could talk about was being in the rain throughout the whole thing.

However, the school made a big mistake in letting everyone know that the event would happen “rain or shine.” Many of the graduates knew this to be a fact and came prepared with umbrellas, ponchos, towels and plastic bags to brave the elements.

Many of the people attending, some from faraway places, also knew that they were going to be out in the rain and were willing to do it because of the fact that the school said it was going to happen “rain or shine.”

The school also made a mistake by not securing an alternate venue. The school’s gymnasium was being utilized for Grad Night 2011 – which took place Saturday night despite the postponement of the graduation ceremony – leaving Dixon High with no alternatives that would be able to hold the amount of people anticipated at the ceremony.

Some of our readers commented that perhaps the Dixon May Fair grounds, the old Dixon High School gym or a large church hall should have been secured.

I agree with many of those comments. The school should have secured another place to hold the ceremony. It didn’t, and because of it, some of the students will not get to walk the stage.

Can the Class of 2011 get past this graduation debacle? Certainly. This is the class that led DHS to its recognition as a California Distinguished School.

Let’s hope that the community can do the same.

The graduation ceremony is set for Wednesday, June 8, at 6 p.m., when rain is not forecast.