Split graduation leaves seniors uneasy

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. - After being reassured of their graduation location, Robertsdale High seniors get word otherwise. Click in for a look at the full story.

Seniors at one local high school are once again worried about their graduation coming up next month. Concerned parents contacted FOX10 News last month about reports that Robertsdale High School's graduation was going to be moved to the Baldwin County Coliseum because the football field, where it's held every year, might not be ready due to construction.

The Baldwin County School Board assured parents and students graduation would be held at the football field unless the construction wasn't complete. This week the senior class at Robertsdale received notice on where to report for graduation and plans have changed.

Josh Chiasson and his friends should be thinking about their spring break that started today, but instead the Robertsdale High School seniors are worried about something else.

"It was kind of here's how it's going to be and that's it," Chiasson explained.

Chiasson is talking about their graduation. The class of 2009 received its graduation invitations at the start of this week and something to go along with them.

"A couple of days later they started calling seniors up by last name and they gave us these little cards that said there's been an error and it's going to be at the coliseum," said Chiasson.

The reason the seniors don't like this idea is because it would split the ceremony in two, because the coliseum can't hold all the parents and friends of the entire class at one time.

The seniors said if graduation is split, it just isn't worth it, and they would rather not participate at all. Chiasson said he will not walk, in fact many seniors feel that way including Chiasson's best friend Dustin Thweatt.

"If it's here, I'm going to the stadium. I played football there for 4 years and that's where I'm graduating at," Thweatt said.

Two other high schools in the Baldwin County area have offered Robertsdale High School their stadiums for graduation if needed. Baldwin County School board members said that they are pushing construction to be finished by May 1st, which would be well before the May 18th graduation ceremony, but ultimately the decision on where to have the graduation ceremony is up to Robertsdale High School's principal.