Lake Orion High School’s Class of 2007 will be able to have their graduation at Meadowbrook, but a larger venue will have to be found for the Class of 2008.
LOHS Principal Todd Dunckley said this year’s sophomore class has over 600 students. He said the district would like to keep allowing four graduation tickets per family.
The tickets are for pavilion seats and Meadowbrook Music Festival, on the campus of Oakland University, and the lawn there is available on a first-come basis.
The Class of 2007 has 557 students, which LO Schools Superintendent Chris Lehman said is the largest figure so far. She said the district can remain at Meadowbrook for one more year, but must find someplace else after that.
The school board had previously decided to move graduation to Freedom Hill in Sterling Heights beginning next year. Lehman and school board trustee Janet Wolverton attended a recent graduation ceremony at Freedom Hill.
‘Traffic was the main issue,? Wolverton said. ‘The venue itself is very nice.?
Lehman said that Lake Orion would not be at the ‘top of the list? for the best dates if they moved to Freedom Hill.
‘Currently, if we were at Freedom Hill next year, graduation would be a Tuesday night at 7 p.m…f we stay at Meadowbrook, we’re still penciled in for a Friday evening.?
Dunckley said the longer the board waits on a decision, the less desirable the dates at Freedom Hill will be.
‘We’re not happy with the Tuesday date, and there are also some litigation issues at Freedom Hill, as well as the parking situation,? Lehman said.
‘When we originally decided on Freedom Hill, they did not have litigation issue going on,? she added.
Treasurer Mary Jo Burchart said she used to live in Macomb County, and was familiar with Freedom Hill’s problems.
‘The current litigation issue is parking,? she said. ‘They have also had problems with neighbors over the noice…if the people who own (Freedom Hill) were to go under, we wouldn’t want to get stuck either.?
Dunckley said staying at Meadowbrook would give the committee another year to find a new location for the Class of 2008.
‘We’re still talking to DTE (Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston), but they’re saying it’s not a possibility,? Lehman said.
DTE had previously told LO Schools that they will only host graduation for Clarkston Schools.
Dunckley said he believed Lake Orion still had some ‘wiggle room? at DTE if graduation was on a weekday.
Trustee Bill Walters said he believed this was a decision the administration could make without the board having to decide.
‘I think you’re right about us staying away from the litigation right now, if we can,? he said.
Dunckley said there were some ‘promising possibilities? at some other venues that the administration would continue to pursue over the summer.
‘We have to open our minds to a non-traditional time for the first couple of years,? Lehman said.