As TCHS alumni, parents, and students we care about tradition and legacy in Texas City. This is the last time seniors participate in a school related function. Their walk to receive their diploma should be on, the traditional graduation location, Texas City High School Stadium field. It should not be held at an out of district location which is in Galveston on a major holiday weekend. We have a beautiful field that local businesses granted a lot of money to build, not to mention tax payers pay for…ITS FREE TO USE and it’s minutes from home.

Relevance to this petition: 

1. This change was never brought before the school board for a vote even after they were told it would be. It was discussed as an information item on June 28, 2021 but there was not a motion to carry. Students and parents were also not included in a vote to make the change.

2. Takes away tradition and legacy of the walk into the highschool stadium, walk on the track, and onto the field the seniors have performed on, spectated at, and enjoyed for 4 years. (Not to mention a lot of the students parents and other family members before them)

3. The expense of renting Moody Gardens venue, the cost of transportation gas and paying bus drivers… those funds could be put to good use somewhere else in the district! 

4. Graduation is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, which is fine if we weren’t traveling over the causeway to Galveston…one of the biggest tourist destinations in southeast TX on a major holiday weekend!

5. Creates a HUGE gap in time (change is 2pm instead of 7pm) for the Project Graduation event. Parents and students have fundraised for some 5+ years and spent countless hours planning and preparing to create a safe, fun, alcohol and drug free event for our seniors. Will most even attend now that there are hours in between? 

6. The letter sent out to senior parents states this change is because of weather. After hearing from several TCISD employees (longest employee 26 years who has actually participated in commencement exercises), alumni, & past senior parents WEATHER HAS NEVER BEEN A FACTOR ON GRADUATION DAY ENOUGH TO CHANGE THE VENUE (time moved but never location) 1988 was the last time venue changed because of weather,  that I know of (that’s 34 years ago!)