The Travesty That Was AHS Graduation

While your Patch writer noted the delay in the start of the AHS graduation, what was not made clear was why the ceremony was delayed.  Apparently, Superintendent Mala is quite the equestrian and was determined to hold the graduation outdoors so he could enter on horseback.  When the email went out at 3:30 that we would be outside, no one in a position of authority could have been looking at every single website, app and forecast that clearly called for rain from early evening on with many rightly anticipating heavy downpours.  From 5:10 through 6:45, no announcements or communications were made to parents and students.  Nothing.  Parents who won "bids" for front row seats were asked to move or not seated at all.  Furthermore, with the graduation starting (finally) at 7:20p, everyone who had made reservations at local restaurants had to abandon those (and all hope of eating.) I'm sure those establishments were understanding of the loss of business as the administration were determine to go with Plan A at any cost.  As a frequent traveler, here are the differences between being stuck on the tarmac and AHS graduation for a two hour delay. (1) If you get up to use the restroom during a delay on your flight, you don't worry that someone will try to take your seat (2) on the plane, at least you might get a snack and water (3) the pilot will make an announcement in the first hour (4) there are no wheelchairs in the exit lanes.  Once the ceremony started, Superintendent Mala went on with his written remarks, except he didn't write them.  He did credit the author and, regardless of the lateness of the hour, went on and read the entire piece (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column,0,4054576.column)  Why not just send the link with the next day's apology?  Finally, at 9:10, the graduation concluded.  And everyone, about 700 people, tried to exit through two single doors from the "new gym" into the school's hallways.  In a final moment of incredulity, the superintendent stood by as new graduates lit up cigars there in the hallway.  Inside the school.  If the novel "Lord of the Flies" wanted to include a chapter on graduating, they could have modeled it after this night.  I'm ashamed to say we moved to Avon 9 years ago from NJ because we were told the school system was the best in CT.  Talk about incredulous.