Dear Superintendent Betando and the Morgan Hill Unified School District,
I implore you to rethink your high school graduation schedules. At the 2 p.m. June 3 graduation ceremony for Live Oak, the heat was so intense at least five people fainted. My 80-year-old parents were there to see their one and only grandchild graduate; they would not have missed it for the world. Unfortunately, despite sitting in the back row so that they could stay under umbrellas for shade and constantly spraying themselves with water, my father could only make it halfway through the ceremony. He became shaky and had to retreat to the car for air conditioning. My mother, whose heart is not functioning well, could barely make it back to the car after the ceremony.
It was not just the spectators suffering. The entire front row of students was facing the sun in their full-length gowns. The teachers were in black gowns with no shade. The heat was so intense it was difficult to listen to the speakers. Those kids worked long and hard on their speeches, yet it was impossible to concentrate on what they were saying.
After four years of supporting our children and their school, why would you subject us to sitting for hours in 100 degree temperatures on blazing hot artificial turf? June in Morgan Hill is often very hot and this is not the only year the temperature has been unbearable during graduation. Are you going to wait until someone actually dies in the heat before making changes?
Please consider a morning or evening time for future graduation ceremonies.
Becky Wallingford
Proud (but overheated) parent of a Live Oak graduate
