You can’t keep a good party down in Oxford.
Organizers of the Senior All Night Party held at Oxford High School Sunday night/Monday morning didn’t let the lack of electricity or sweltering heat stop them from throwing one heck of a farewell bash for the Class of 2008.
‘If it wasn’t for the parents, they may have had (a party), but it surely wouldn’t have ran as smooth,? said Bruce Biebuyck, supervisor of the school district’s maintenance department. ‘They just did an awesome job.?
Severe storms rolled through the area shortly after 5 p.m., knocking out power to OHS. The school does have a back-up generator, but its only job is to keep the lights on, the walk-in freezer/cooler cold and, in the winter, make sure the boiler keeps running.
‘Our generator only runs part of the school,? Biebuyck said. ‘It’s not intended to run the whole school.?
Instead of throwing in the towel, the dedicated parent volunteers who organized the party rallied and used about eight or nine personal generators to power everything from the DJ’s booth to inflatable games to the mechanical bull.
‘Parents brought generators, gas, extension cords ? it was just incredible what they did,? Biebuyck said. ‘I had generators sitting on stand-by because people brought extra ones.?
Biebuyck noted one parent even brought in flood lights to help party-goers enjoying the entertainment in the courtyard.
By midnight, they were able to run most of the party equipment and some large fans off the building’s 110-volt emergency panel, thanks to some rewiring by the school’s electrician aided by a parent who’s also licensed electrician .
But it was those individual generators that bought them the time they needed and ultimately save the party.