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Seniors may get a break If weather stays dry, graduation can be held outside after all Sports Writer In a school year filled with disappointments, this year's graduating seniors at Brainerd High School may have finally gotten a break to go their way.
The seniors have endured new dress code restrictions, a closed campus during school hours and went without lockers for the first two months of the school year.
For some, the straw that broke the camel's back came on April 27. That's when BHS principal Steve Razidlo told the seniors that graduation, which is traditionally conducted outdoors on Adamson Field, would need to be moved into the high school gymnasium because of a new irrigation system being installed on the football field.
Fast forward a month and the seniors finally got the good news they've been waiting for. Through the hard work of the district's building and grounds workers, the construction company and all the contractors involved with the project, Razidlo was given the go-ahead to hold graduation ceremonies on Adamson Field 7 p.m. Friday.
"We're having the final inspection of the irrigation system (Thursday)," Razidlo said, "and we'll make a decision (Thursday). Everyone has worked for us to have the opportunity to hold the graduation ceremonies outside. We've pulled the snow fence down from around the field and mowed the field for the possibility of having an outdoor ceremony."
While Razidlo and the rest of the administration want nothing more than to hold graduation ceremonies outside as in years past, it's now up to Mother Nature.
The weather forecast for Friday night is temperatures in the 40s with west winds 5-15 mph and a 30 percent chance of rain. And like any other year, the seniors will run through an indoor rehearsal in case of weather.
"It will not be a question of whether the field is ready or not," Razidlo said of the decision to hold graduation indoors. "I am concerned about the temperature and how wet the field will be. I'm also concerned about the wind and cold for families to have to sit through a two-hour program.
"If we do end up having graduation indoors, we don't want it to be blamed on the construction of the irrigation system."
Razidlo said he's had very few calls regarding his initial decision to hold graduation inside. He's also quick to praise the senior class for dealing with the different obstacles this year.
"We've had a lot of remarks from students and people in the community saying they wished they had the option of an outdoor ceremony," Razidlo said. "The kids have been tremendous and have dealt with things very well. They're all good people and most understand we're trying to do the best we can. But now it's a weather call."
TROY GUNDERSON can be reached at troy.gunderson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5865.
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