BRENTWOOD -- Liberty Union High School District officials have agreed that they'll be better prepared for troublesome weather during future graduation ceremonies.

The informal discussion at this week's board meeting was prompted by soaring temperatures earlier this month that overcame 25 people attending Heritage and Freedom high schools' commencement exercises, a dozen of whom were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

"We do need to pay a little more attention to the weather forecasts -- that's sort of the bottom line," Superintendent Eric Volta said.

Trustees didn't agree to make any specific changes at this point, however, because whatever measures they take will depend on what Mother Nature dishes out, he said.

Wind buffeted graduates at last year's ceremonies, Volta noted, sending mortarboards flying and prompting administrators to weigh down the stacks of diploma jackets onstage with water bottles.

The year before that it rained throughout the events, thoroughly soaking seniors (with the exception of one boy who wore a duck hunting outfit under his gown) and turning beaming faces into miserable-looking ones, Volta said.

Aware of the weather forecasts, district officials had considered postponing the ceremonies for a few hours in hopes that they could beat the rain, but decided against it because they feared a delay would interfere with students' family celebrations, he said.

Graduation dates are decided well

"There was no strong opinion that we should change the days," he said of trustees' comments at the board meeting.

What's more, if the district were to make the 9:30 a.m. start time of Heritage and Freedom high schools' commencements any earlier, participants then might complain about being cold, Volta said.

Read the rest here:

Liberty Union High School District will better prepare for difficult graduation weather