Schools

Miller Park Strikes Out as Graduation Site

Menomonee Falls seniors likely will graduate in their home town, rather than at home plate, in 2012.

An idea to move the 2012 Menomonee Falls High School graduation to Miller Park -- at double or triple the cost of hosting it at home -- struck out with a league of parents.

Parents opposed to a Miller Park graduation site objected to extra fees and an away location for the ceremony. 

“It’s pretty loud and clear in all the responses that I did get is that people didn’t like the fee or leaving Menomonee Falls,” said School Board President Kathy Shurilla. “Those are the two bottom-line items.”

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Principal Gary Kiltz  to solve planning headaches due to inadequate seating for an indoor ceremony and unpredictable weather for an outdoor ceremony. Four other alternate locations were suggested at the January meeting, with Kiltz favoring Miller Park to keep weather issues at bay and allow students an unlimited number of guests.

“What I was trying to do with this proposal was to reduce the anxiety,” Kiltz said. “Graduation should be a celebration, and we want to do anything we can to focus on the celebration rather than having anxiety or frustration associated with weather or issues with family not being able to get in.”

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Parents opposed to the ballpark site idea flooded Kiltz and board members with phone calls and emails. Residents were concerned about the added $25 fee per family to hold the ceremony at Miller Park, and others felt the ceremony should stay in the community.

The cost to host the ceremony at the school is from $5,000 to $8,000. The cost to host the ceremony at Miller Park is $15,000. The proposed extra $25 fee would cover about $8,000 in venue costs.

“I understand the concerns," Kiltz said, adding that "we certainly are going to put together a tremendous graduation no matter where it’s held.” 

A number of calls and emails in support of moving the ceremony did come in, Kiltz said, mainly from families that wanted a graduation option that didn’t limit tickets.

Residents who contacted Shurilla also offered positive feedback, noting that indoor facilities at the high school are much improved, and the class sizes are declining, she said.

Others suggested ideas to free up tickets for graduates' family members by providing live video access to the ceremony, Shurilla said.  One suggestion was to broadcast the ceremony live on cable, so the ceremony could be watched from home. Another person proposed selling tickets to the auditorium and playing a live feed of the ceremony there.

“I think we have options for the ceremony without having to leave Menomonee Falls and imposing additional fees on families,” Shurilla said.

 


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