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Hernando Officials Try To Soothe Parents Excluded At Graduation

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: June 17, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando High School seating problem that left panicked parents outside at a graduation ceremony on June 10 could have been solved with a little "scootch to the left."

But it wasn't, prompting repeated accusations from parents and an equal number of sincere apologies from district officials at a meeting Monday evening at the school.

"We screwed up in a major way," Superintendent Wayne Alexander said. "Administration in this building did not communicate, and there are no words we can say to make this better other than 'I'm sorry.' We simply screwed up, and I'm upset that you're upset."

The gym could have accommodated 1,928 people, but it was closed at 1,800, including those onstage.

There was enough space, Assistant Principal Mark Griffith said.

A small crowd of slightly more than a dozen parents attended the meeting, which school board chairwoman Sandra Nicholson called last week to clear to air.

One parent complained that even after 70 teachers were moved out to make room for more parents, there were seats being taken up by nonessential faculty. Meanwhile, dozens of friends and family members were denied access to the ceremony and guided into the auditorium to watch the ceremony on a large-screen TV.

Alexander blamed the problem on a "lack of supervision and communication" and said the issue has been addressed with the administrator responsible for the decision.

Brooksville resident Jamie Brooks, who was allowed into the gym late but was forced to leave several family members in the auditorium, said an apology is owed to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office deputies on duty at the gym's doors, many of whom bore the brunt of parents' anger.

"The deputies got thrown under the bus, and they didn't deserve that," she said.

Nicholson explained that the main reason the ceremony was moved inside several years ago was because the skies opened up during a graduation.

"I can excuse God for the [weather], but not [you] for making me miss my son's graduation," Rick Stone said.

Rumors about administrative comments also caused emotions to run high, with parents accusing district officials of blaming the problem on parents arriving late.

"I'm not going to sit here and tell the superintendent he has to fire somebody on the spot," Nicholson said. "If all you want is blood, it's not going to happen."

She said two county boards — the Hernando County Fair Board and Tourist Development Board — have been working together to come up with a plan for a building at the fairgrounds large enough to accommodate graduations.

Alexander promised that all parents will receive a complimentary DVD of the ceremony upon request, and officials assured parents the space crunch will not happen again.

Absent from the meeting was the school's principal, Betty Harper, and incoming Principal Ken Pritz. Both were both on vacation.

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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