Students ask Whitehall-Copley to keep graduation at PPL Center

Several students and families urged the Whitehall-Copley board on May 26 to keep the class of 2027 commencement at the PPL Center rather than move it outdoors to Zephyr Stadium, saying an indoor venue ensures accessibility and preserves tradition.

Isabella Roseri (who prefers Bella), an 11th grader speaking on behalf of many students, said students were asked earlier whether they preferred an indoor ceremony and that many expressed a strong preference for staying at the PPL Center because of summer heat and unpredictable weather. She said an administrative contact at the PPL Center told her the district still had a reservation for June 1. The administration, she said, had cited a $40,000 (possibly up to $50,000) cost as a reason to relocate graduation and to prioritize purchasing staging and equipment the district could reuse.

Why this matters: students called the indoor ceremony a tradition and argued a stadium ceremony reduces accessibility for some families and risks heat-related discomfort. Bella asked for transparency about the booking and a reconsideration of the venue decision.

Administration comment and next steps: District administrators acknowledged cost pressures and said investing in reusable staging equipment was part of long-term planning; students asked the board and administration to honor the PPL Center reservation and to provide clearer communication to families about the decision and any possible financial alternatives.

The board did not make a formal vote on graduation venue at this special meeting; students and parents were told the district would continue to consider budgetary trade-offs and logistics.