Atherton’s yearbooks were delayed over a month and a half due to Balfour with the company the yearbook team uses to produce their yearbooks. In 2023, Balfour announced that their main plant, which was in Dallas, would be moving to Merida, Mexico. Due to the move, over 150 employees were laid off.

When most schools send their yearbooks to be made, it arrives a few months later. However, it was not the case this time. Balfour sent a statement to schools nationwide announcing that yearbooks will be set back due to manufacturing delays.

Because of the set back, many yearbook staff and advisors of schools, including our own, were worried about mistakes, further delays, and wrong books. Oldham County High School, for instance, had a delay from Balfour as well. When the staff received their book, the cover was correct but inside the book was for an entirely different school from the north.

Scout Tarquinio, 12, head editor of Atherton’s yearbook, expressed her feelings about the delay.
“I was really upset by it because we knew that they moved their plant to Mexico. We were already scared that they were going to be late, but with them being a month and a half late, it made me really nervous. Especially like Oldham County’s having their cover but the wrong book inside. It made others upset and made it where we couldn’t presale our yearbook and everything got delayed.”
As many schools have received or are still waiting for their yearbooks to arrive, Balfour has yet to speak further.