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Board reviews graduation 2027 plan: more venues, live streams and tightened entry rules
Summary
District staff outlined a nine‑ceremony schedule for 2027, continued use of open‑gate weapon screening and a no‑bag/no‑balloon policy; board members pressed for earlier ticketing communication and better sound at select venues.
The Marion County School District outlined plans for graduation season in May 2027, including nine high‑school ceremonies (the addition of South Marion High) and expanded use of the open‑gate weapon detection system at larger venues. “We had almost 32,000 total guests screened,” said Mr. White house during the briefing, noting the system intercepted weapons before entry last year.
Board members and staff discussed venue choices and crowd management after the presentation. The district plans seven venues this year, will live‑stream ceremonies and maintain a no‑bag policy; two indoor ceremonies at the World Equestrian Center will be ticketed because of capacity constraints (WEC Arena 5 capacity noted near 3,000). Several members urged raising the initial ticket allocation (four per graduate was debated) and communicating the policy early to families to reduce late complaints.
Board members also asked for restrictions to improve the ceremony experience. Dr. Campbell and other members asked staff to prohibit large balloon arrangements and air horns because they block sight lines and interfere with name announcements. The board directed staff to finalize logistics, confirm contractor arrangements for live streaming, and return with refined ticketing and communication materials.
