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There is going to be some serious pomp and a whole lot of circumstance when Winchester High School seniors cross the stage at Symphony Hall.
“I think it’s a fantastic space,” said School Committee member Chris Nixon. “I’m sort of envious in that other classes maybe won’t have that opportunity.”
Graduation is traditionally held at Knowlton Stadium with the high school gym as a backup in case of inclement weather, but that plan hit a snag this year.
Nixon called the problem a consequence of the delayed construction work on the gym. He said the low bidder for the project to reconfigure the gym walked away and the second low bidder was not within the budget, forcing the School Department to go back to Town Meeting for additional funding.
“We’re turning that space over to the contractor next month,” he said. “That’s why the space is not available for graduation.”
Nixon was also quick to praise the “high school team” for vetting dozens of potential options for graduation before narrowing it down to two: Burlington High School, which had offered their gym as back up and Symphony Hall.
While Symphony Hall is not free, both Nixon and High School Principal Dennis Mahoney said it was one of the more economical options. And there’s been help to offset that cost.
The School Committee accepted two grants during a recent meeting: $15,000 from the John & Mary Murphy Educational Foundation and $5,000 from the Winchester High School Parent Faculty Association. Both grants aimed at covering the cost of the graduation.
“I just really appreciate the generosity of the John and Mary Murphy Educational Foundation to help make that happen, as well as a PFA parent Faculty Association for kicking in some money as well,” Nixon said.
School Committee Chair Karen Maruyama Bolognese echoed Nixon’s sentiments while Mahoney joked that it was a good thing his camera was off during what was a Zoom meeting or they’d see him blushing. He called it a monumental effort of many.
“I hope students and families will not only enjoy the day, but have fond memories of that for many, many years to come,” Nixon said.
