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TOP PHOTO: Recent graduate Abigail Watts addressed BOE members on Tuesday regarding graduation problems at CCHS due to inclement weather.
By Charlotte Underwood
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Board of Education was addressed by recent graduate Abigail Watts regarding the problems that arose from having the graduation ceremony in the CCHS gym rather than on the football field due to inclement weather. Watts questioned Director of Schools Jennifer Fields and school board members why there was not a “back-up plan in case of rain.”
“We the class of 2024 were promised a joyous graduation and a joyous day to celebrate us, sadly, instead we were herded through the gym like cattle to get tagged…there was no pomp, no circumstance and no stage to ascend to as we took the step from the graduation,” Watts said.
She said parents, aunts and uncles were there to attend the graduation, but once the gym was “deemed full” many were turned away.
“Some people did see some admin and staff letting people through that were their friends, kicking out many other parents and grandparents. A kid saw this and got mad; he opened the door and let through all of his family as he was the last grandchild to graduate in his family,” Watts said.
She went on to say there was no plan at graduation and that they (grads) had sat from 4 to 7 pm in the gym not knowing when they were going to get to go to graduation.
“We were told by admin and staff that rain or shine we would be on our football field, but at 6:40 our Principal Ben Foust told us that somebody above him said we were going to be in the gym. We deserve a public written apology,’ Watts said.
Fields told Watts that she was “so sorry that it rained and that she wished she could control the weather.”
“Our issue is that no one told us what was going to happen. We were told that rain or shine we were going to be on that field and then they kept telling us that and then we found out through Facebook that it was going to be in the gym,” Watts said.
Fields apologized once more, saying she could not control the weather. She also said that the backup plan for rain would usually be at Lincoln Memorial University, but that LMU had a vet school graduation going on the same time as CCHS’s graduation.
“There were schools in Knoxville that had the same situation. I hate that it happened. I know when we have had other events outside like May Day and stuff like that, we have had to move those inside the gym; it’s not the ideal circumstance, but when you don’t have an alternate plan because of spacing issues, it was the only option that was available,” Fields said.
“I am also sorry that graduation didn’t work out for you. I wish that we could go back and redo it, but we can’t,” said board chair Steve Morgan. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/12/2024-6AM)
I am a grandmother of a graduate. We sat out on that field with umbrellas and we were drowned and still didn’t get to see her graduate. The weather forecast was clear that it would be heavy rains. How about change the date?
Here is a BOLD Idea. Call LMU TODAY and schedule next year’s Graduation at LMU.
Because as Director Fields said. She can’t control the weather but she can control the planning. What a concept as they say ( PREPLANNING ).
Oak Ridge had a backup plan. They scheduled for Friday night, if it rained they were doing it on Saturday night, if it rained then, they were doing it on Sunday with each child allowed to bring 6 people. This was their last resort and at least everyone had advance notice. My daughter couldn’t get in to see her brother graduate at CCHS that night and that’s something we’ll never get back.
They are always quick to blame mistakes on everyone/ everything but themselves! Sorry to hear that their special day was ruined, as far as certain people being allowed in , this has always been this way in CC, it will never change!
My friends grandmother was there to watch the graduation and due to everyone being rushed inside and the floors being wet she fell and was injured