HIGHLANDS RANCH — Parents of Mountain Vista High School students say poor planning by administrators led to a miserable graduation ceremony Thursday at Red Rocks.
“I was just thinking how it was supposed to be one of the best days of my life,” said graduate Jenna Owens. “I was just really upset, and girls were crying and stuff. It’s sad.”
Several parents, including Jeff Moede, sent home video of the outdoor ceremony to 9News.
Some videos show students running across the rain-drenched stage, parents getting up and leaving in the middle of the ceremony, and thunder drowning out students’ names.
“The rain just constantly got harder and harder, and then there was thunder and lightning,” Moede said. “And everyone was holding umbrellas, which are like mini-lightning rods.”
“Fortunately, nobody got hurt,” said another parent, Rick Owens.
Douglas County School District Spokesman Randy Barber said students and their families were never in any danger, despite storms in the area.
