Desert Hills Board Plans Concise Graduation Ceremonies Amid Overflow Concerns

The Washington County School District held a working session on May 8, 2025, focusing primarily on graduation ceremonies and the logistics surrounding them. Board members discussed the expectations of parents and students regarding graduation speeches and the overall ceremony format.

A significant point of discussion was the brevity of speeches during graduation. Board members noted that parents primarily attend to see their children graduate and prefer shorter remarks from officials. It was agreed that speeches should be limited to two to three minutes, a shift from previous years when longer speeches were more common. This change aims to accommodate larger graduating classes, such as Desert Hills High School, which is expected to have nearly 500 graduates this year.

Concerns were raised about the capacity of venues for graduation ceremonies, particularly regarding fire safety regulations. The board acknowledged feedback from parents about ticketing for attendees due to limited space. To address this, overflow seating will be provided at Cox Auditorium, allowing more family members to participate in the ceremonies.

Additionally, the board discussed the possibility of holding future graduations at Dixie State University’s stadium to better accommodate growing class sizes. However, logistical challenges remain, and the board is considering various options for next year’s ceremonies.

The meeting also included a brief introduction to a new board software program, PrimeGov, which aims to streamline meeting processes and documentation. Board members were encouraged to familiarize themselves with the software to enhance efficiency in future meetings.

Overall, the session highlighted the district's commitment to improving graduation experiences for students and their families while addressing logistical challenges posed by increasing class sizes. The board plans to continue refining the graduation process and will keep parents informed about any changes.