HCSD faces criticism for graduation

Published 1:15 pm Thursday, June 14, 2018

JASPER, Fla. — The Hamilton County School District is facing criticism following its graduation Friday.

According to Superintendent Rex Mitchell, each senior was given 10 tickets for family and friends in the event the graduation had to be moved to the gymnasium due to inclement weather.

Peggy Rowe posted on Facebook that people were let in without tickets and the doors were closed 30 minutes prior to the posted deadline for tickets.

According to Mitchell, the tickets had to be used by 7:45 p.m. and after that seats were first come, first serve.

He added that students were told this information via phone and the information was sent out on Facebook.

“Hamilton County High School robbed me of watching my son graduate,” Barbara McClain posted on Facebook.

She also stated she was at the gym on time but was not allowed in due to the gym reaching capacity.

“We did not let people in without tickets prior to 7:45 p.m.” Mitchell said.

He said the county does not have an indoor facility big enough to accommodate everyone.

“It is an unfortunate circumstance of having to move indoors when we have a crowd bigger than the venue,” Mitchell said.

Candi Davis said in a post on Facebook that many parents with tickets were there on time but didn’t get to the door in time due to people without tickets standing in line and not moving.

Mitchell added that many staff members gave up their seats so more parents could have seats.

He said that he feels bad that everyone who wanted couldn’t get inside.

“I don’t think anything was done inappropriately in my mind,” Mitchell said.

There was a viewing room set up in the auditorium.

“It was a very nice graduation,” Mitchell said. “This is what we live for, to see our students graduate and move on to the next phase of their life.”