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Othello school board praises graduation security, flags sound system and parking issues
Summary
Board members praised graduation logistics and security but raised concerns about the stadium loudspeaker, parking and students' desire for a longer individual moment; staff were asked to assess sound and seating solutions.
Board members at the Othello School District meeting reviewed this week’s graduation service and commended staff and security while flagging problems with the stadium’s sound system and parking logistics.
Board members praised the security setup and smooth entry through metal detectors, and several said rehearsals and logistics improved compared with the prior year. At the same time, a board member stated bluntly: "Our sound system is abysmal," and asked staff to investigate fixes so future graduating seniors’ names and speeches can be heard clearly.
Student representatives relayed feedback that some students would prefer graduates be presented "one at a time" so each student could have a clearer moment; a student representative reported that students asked whether that change was possible. A board member noted time and heat constraints and said the district was done in about an hour and 15 minutes with nearly 350 students.
Superintendent-level staff said they would assess the sound systems at Husky Stadium and the gym and consult with technical staff, naming Rigo Ozuna and Greg Fultz as people with expertise who would be contacted. "We'll take a look at it and bring something back for the board to consider," the presenter said.
Board members also described how parking logistics were challenging for some parents, and staff noted that the district arranged senior parking and busing to open parent parking spaces. Phoenix Security’s project manager, Tim Taff, was credited for improvements after last year’s issues.
No formal board action was taken; the discussion yielded a direction for staff to assess sound systems and report options to the board for future consideration.
