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SANDY — With temperatures expected to approach the upper 90s in the coming days, Jordan High School administrators elected on Monday to move the school’s commencement ceremony indoors and away from the football field where it had been scheduled.
Principal Tom Sherwood said surface temperatures on Jordan High’s artificial turf field consistently topped 130 degrees Fahrenheit, and even surpassed 160 F Monday afternoon when air temperatures were in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Sherwood said he expected air temperatures to be roughly 10 degrees higher Tuesday evening when the ceremony was scheduled to take place.
“It would just be miserable — and not even just miserable, but unsafe,” Sherwood said, noting warmth of the graduation gowns and the potential for heat-related illness.
Instead of Jordan High's field, Sherwood said the graduation will now be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Maverik Center, 3200 Decker Lake Dr., in West Valley City.
The principal said the move was “bittersweet” for him since the graduation will be his last at Jordan.
“As a matter of fact, this is my last year at Jordan High — I’ve been here for 13 years,” said Sherwood, who is slated to become the new principal at Brighton High School.
“I’m disappointed for the kids that they couldn’t have it here, because it really is a unique experience.”
