FRANKLIN — Franklin High School is making accommodations for its graduation ceremony at American Family Field this Saturday as an extreme heat watch threatens to bring scorching temperatures to the area.
The school, in partnership with American Family Field, will be closing a section of the stadium roof to offer more shaded seating for attendees.
Spectators will also be allowed to bring non-alcoholic beverages into the stadium to help stay hydrated during the ceremony.
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed, providing an alternative way to watch graduates receive their diplomas without braving the heat.
Glenn Putnam, whose son D'Angelo is graduating, appreciates the venue choice despite the weather concerns.
"We're very excited for him to graduate," Putnam said. "If you were doing it in the high school or a smaller venue, only so many people could come, so AmFam field works out awesome."
Watch: Franklin High School makes accommodations at graduation ceremony amid extreme heat
The extreme temperatures are affecting more than just the graduation ceremony. Putnam has been forced to change plans for his son's graduation party scheduled for Sunday.
"Nobody's going to want to sit in that extreme heat," Putnam said.
The family had originally planned an outdoor celebration with tents and tables for approximately 70 guests, but has now moved everything indoors.
"We were going to set it up outside, we had some tents, tables lined up. But with the heat we're moving it all inside, and it's going to be rough, but we think we can pull it off," Putnam said.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, Putnam is committed to making the celebration special for his son.
"It's too important for D'Angelo," Putnam said.
This story was reported on-air by Brendyn Jones and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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