Location for Winchester High School graduation uncertain

Typically, the toughest decision Dennis Mahoney has to make in regards to Winchester High School’s annual graduation ceremony is weather related. But this year, it’s all about location, location, location.

“It’s a big decision. It’s a heavy decision,” said Winchester’s High School principal.

Graduation is traditionally held at Knowlton Stadium with the high school gym as a backup in case of inclement weather. But this year, there is no backup.

A construction project to overhaul the gym that was supposed to be wrapped in time for graduation hit a snag.

School Committee member Chris Nixon said the low bidder on the project walked away and the second lowest bidder was higher than what had been budgeted.

Nixon said the schools had to go back to Town Meeting in the fall for more funding.

Town Meeting swiftly approved the request, but it nonetheless put the project behind schedule — which now puts the where, in regards to graduation, in question.

Mahoney sent out a three-page letter to seniors and their families and brought the School Committee up-to-date on the issue during a recent meeting. Graduation, while it might look easy, is a major production with a lot of moving parts, he said.

With 321 graduating seniors, Mahoney said the school anticipates 2,500-2,800 guests attending. They also have to juggle schedules with the Department of Public Works, police and fire and Town Day festivities, he added.

In looking at other possible venues, which the district started doing in November,

Mahoney said he’s taken into account travel time, parking restrictions, the size of the venue, a genuine desire to be there and potential costs. They are also trying to keep the June 6 date or at the very least, that weekend.

Here are just a few of the venues being looked at according to the letter sent to parents:

• Harvard, MIT and Tufts — All declined our request for various reasons that centered around size and availability.

• Boston University — Would cost over $17K

• The Museum of Science — can’t accommodate the request

• The New Balance indoor track stadium — already booked.

• The Chevalier Theatre in Medford — too small

• The Boch/Wang Center — minimum $50K to rent

• The Harbor Lights Pavilion — rental cost starts at over $75K

• The Tsongas Arena — is booked years in advance

• The Encore Casino — “was entertained as an option, for a hot minute”

• Outdoor tent — Preliminary cost quote was $59K and it conflicts with Town Day fireworks.

Mahoney said school officials also spoke with a number of area high schools, but there were scheduling conflicts with almost all.

What are the options?

Mahoney said graduation comes down to two potential options:

1) Knowlton Stadium, as usual

Hold the commencement at Knowlton Stadium on Friday, June 6 and use Burlington High School as backup in case of inclement weather.

However, Mahoney said they will have to make the call whether or not to move the ceremony inside by June 4 and once that call is made, “it’s final, even if the weather clears.”

There will also be a four ticket per family limit as Burlington’s gym is smaller.

2) Symphony Hall in Boston

“Symphony Hall is surprisingly affordable,” Mahoney told the School Committee.

He also said the schools have the money to pay for it so it would come at no extra cost to students or the town. If they go with Symphony Hall, however, it would be a committed booking for Sunday, June 8 at 11 a.m.

Knowlton would no longer be on the table and there would be a six ticket limit per family.

Mahoney said he could and ultimately would make the decision on which option to go with, but he wanted to hear from the students first.

In the letter is a feedback link for students to only offer opinions and even pitch a location idea of their own. Mahoney said he realizes the decision will impact many lives, but the ones he is particularly concerned with are his students.

“Because this moment is their biggest moment in their lives up until this point in their lives … so we want to make it as special as possible,” he said.

“Symphony Hall, I think, is a fantastic option, but we want to hear from the students and families as well.”

Mahoney will ultimately make the decision once he has heard from the senior class.