BOE rethinking Palace graduation

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NAUGATUCK — The Board of Education is reconsidering its decision to hold Naugatuck High School graduation at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.

After the board decided last month to book the Palace for graduation in June because of ongoing construction at the high school, some students and parents began to oppose the idea. The board says it will now seek out more information before making a final decision, likely at next month’s regularly scheduled meeting.

The school has held graduation at the Palace for the past two years because of the ongoing $81 million renovate-to-new high school project. This year, however, the high school football and soccer field is complete and so is the gymnasium, so some students and parents argue the venue will be fine for graduation. Graduation in Naugatuck is typically held at the high school.

Senior Sarah Hanks said the class of 2015 has had to make accommodations for the greater good of the school district for several years. She believes the school district owes it to the class to allow graduation at the high school.

Specifically, she said, the class went through reconfiguration while in elementary school, was in middle school during the district’s decision to combine the two middle schools and school construction began in their sophomore year, leading to cancellation of several events, including the annual pep rally before the Thanksgiving Day game against Ansonia.

“On top of that, our annual Rip the Runway and Mr. Greyhound events are in jeopardy because of construction in the auditorium,” she said.

Hanks’ mother, Ann Hanks, said the students are becoming young adults and should have a say in what happens in their community. She also said an argument against having the graduation at the high school because of a lack of parking is flawed because several sporting events, including the Thanksgiving Day football game in 2013, had thousands of people and no parking issues.

She also disagreed with the board’s argument that the school would need to pay for an expensive cover to place over the field turf so that chairs wouldn’t rip the turf. She said players use cleats on the field and the football team uses a blocking sled on the turf. Other schools with field turf also have graduation on the field without a cover.

Superintendent of Schools Sharon Locke said a committee that oversees the school construction project recommended waiting another year to have graduation at the high school.

Board Chairman David Heller said he would like to see graduation at the high school this year if possible and encourages others to weigh in on the debate so the board can get more feedback.