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Parents, students debate moving senior all‑night party to night before graduation; board says it only approves facility use
Summary
Parents and students at a Wyoming Area School District meeting argued over a proposal to hold the senior all‑night party the night before graduation rather than the night of graduation. The district said the senior parent organization requests facility access and the board does not set the event date.
Parents, students and senior‑parent volunteers urged the Wyoming Area School Board on multiple occasions to either keep the senior all‑night party on graduation night or to reconsider moving it to the night before graduation.
Vanessa Smith, a parent of a senior, asked whether the board had approved “students stay[ing] out till 2 in the morning the night before graduation,” saying the unusual hour would leave graduates exhausted for practice and ceremony the next day.
Michelle McDermott, who identified herself as a member of the senior‑parent board, said the parents had discussed alternatives after declining attendance at past events and had raised roughly $25,000 to support a party intended to serve a broad group of seniors. McDermott said the night‑before plan was intended to increase participation so more graduates could benefit from the funds raised.
Student speakers pushed back. Lee Casa, a senior, said moving the event would “take time away from the actual aspect of our graduation” and that many seniors would not attend if the party is the night before. Natalie Liebman, another senior, told the board the change would “dishonor a tradition” and denied that the decision represented the entire senior class.
Board members and administrators said the board’s role is limited to allowing use of district facilities, not choosing the date of a privately organized senior event. A board member told the room, “That is not our call. Our only call on the all‑night party is whether or not you can use the facility this night or this night.” The administration said the senior parent organization must request access to school facilities and the board will approve or deny facility use; the board does not set the internal scheduling decision made by the senior‑parent group.
Parents and students requested clearer communication and earlier involvement by administration and the board if the event’s date changes. Several parents said they were surprised by the timing and asked that the district consider limiting hours if the night‑before plan proceeds. The senior parent volunteers said they would continue to coordinate with administration and hold class meetings to gather student and parent feedback.
No formal change of district policy or motion to alter event dates was recorded at the meeting. The board and administration indicated they would act only on a facilities request when it is formally submitted.
