After debate on cost and safety, Lockport board approves DJ contract for dances

The Lockport Township High School District 205 board voted to approve a DJ/entertainment contract for homecoming and other school dances after an extended discussion about cost, vendor selection and safety.

Parent and board member Tammy Hayes raised concerns about the contract price and asked whether the district solicited multiple bids; Hayes noted students pay ticket costs and said she worried high vendor fees could limit access. She said she found a different vendor with substantially lower pricing and sought assurance the district had compared options.

Board members and student board members pushed back on the cost-only framing, saying the vendor provides production, staging, an MC and an amplified presence that the district considers important for student engagement and, crucially, on-site crowd management and safety at large events. A student board member described the value of the full production for keeping students engaged and supervised.

Administrators said ticket revenues and event budgets typically cover the vendor cost and that past experience showed higher-quality production increases participation and provides multiple points of entry for students (dance floor, exhibits or quieter spaces). The board conducted a roll-call vote and approved the contract as presented.

Why it matters: Decisions about event vendors affect student access, district budgets, and how the district balances cost containment with safety and student experience.

Sources: Board member remarks and roll-call vote during the May 1 board meeting.