The soggy weather Friday morning prompted Gainesville High School Principal Tom Smith to make a decision to hold off on graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2016, pushing the event to Saturday night at 7:30.
Smith said in a letter to students, parents and the community that he apologized for the inconvenience, but he knew the wet weather would not be conducive to an outdoor ceremony at City Park.
In the 11 a.m. move, Smith outlined instructions for graduates and graduation guests:
Graduates
All graduates should be dropped off at First Baptist Church or ride the shuttle from GHS horseshoe. Please do not drive and park near the area. We need all the parking we can get for visitors. Shuttles from GHS begin at 5:00 PM and end at 5:40 p.m. (all seniors should be at First Baptist Church Banquet Hall by 5:45). There will NOT be return shuttles to GHS.
All others
There will not be parking available at First Baptist Church until after 6:30 PM on Saturday. Additionally, there will be no parking available at the Civic Center. There will be handicapped parking available (with a pass) behind the visitors bleachers at City Park. With that said, the parking is going to be very tight on Saturday; therefore, everyone will need to plan accordingly. Please look at the parking map provided on the school and system webpage.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/5/401957/gainesville-school-officials-postpone-graduation-exercises-because-of-rain