DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston will be the new site for graduation next year.
The Oxford School Board voted unanimously at the May 27 regular meeting to approve the venue at a total cost of $24,500.
According to Oxford High School Principal Todd Dunckley ‘families are very particular when it comes to graduation venues.? Dunckley said he’s received numerous complaints from both students and parents about the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac, where they’ve held graduation the last few years.
‘The complaints we usually get (about) where we’re at now, have mainly to do with the people in the audience,? he told the board. ‘The sightlines are terrible because it’s flat-line seating.?
Prior to Ultimate Soccer, Oxford held their graduation at Oakland University’s basketball arena, however, Dunckley noted the arena cannot be used in May and is no longer a large enough venue to accommodate everyone.
‘It’s a packed house there,? he said. ‘It’s 4,000 (seating capacity) using all bleachers. You remove that one set your down less than where we are at now.?
Dunckley said many people’s memory might think back to their own graduation, where they had a class of 200 students or less and fit inside the school’s gymnasium for the ceremony. Having done two on-site graduations, Dunckley said they got a massive amount of complaints.
‘The setup shuts you down for two days. You have to have two places to set up (for weather purposes) and only a fraction of those people will get to come inside. And the complaints last,? he added. ‘Plus the manpower, the staging, lighting and sound you have to put in cost more than what you’re probably spending right now.?
Dunckley said the DTE venue will seat Oxford’s entire current graduation crowd as well as allow for growth in the future. Around 5,500 people will fit under DTE’s canopy. He noted that DTE is also the graduation spot for Clarkston, Lake Orion and Bloomfield.
Board Trustee Joyce Brasington asked how many people fit at the Ultimate Soccer Arena and what was the cost? At a max, Dunckley said they could fit around 5,000 people, but would have ‘go all the way to the edge and completely break the sight line.? As far as costs, he said in total they spent around $13,000 for the soccer arena.
The date of graduation has not yet been determined yet, but Dunckley said they are looking at May 26, which would fall on a Thursday.
‘Most schools have gone to weekdays, which you would think would cause more kickback, but it has not,? he explained. ‘To use the larger venues on the weekend you’re really limited because they’re using them for performances and concerts.?
As of right now, Dunckley said they are the only school holding graduation in late May (at DTE) He said they could choose to wait until all the students are gone, but ‘competition (for a venue) gets really hard at that point.?
Dunckley noted that by holding graduation prior to Memorial Day weekend they are kept safe for not getting ‘bounced? by DTE.
‘It happened to Orion last year. They got moved within 30 days because they (DTE) reserve the right to bring in a musician or some performance. Their opening weekend is memorial weekend and they will not bring anybody in before that weekend, so we remain staying safe with that date.?
Having never been to DTE, Trustee Kim Shumaker asked how easy handicap parking was. Dunckley said they have a sport for handicap to pull up and be dropped off, as well as a private parking lot that can be reserved behind the stage.
Board Treasurer Dan D’Alessandro was all in favor of the new venue.
?(DTE) is run by the (Palace of) Auburn Hills (and is) probably one of the best venues in Oakland County,? he said. ‘The only thing that would inhibit us from having a perfect event there would be the weather.?
Brasington asked Dunckley if this was his recommendation. He said it was based on the feedback that he received from parents and students.
‘I believe that’s what the vast majority want,? he noted.
Board President Jim Reis said he received a lot of feedback from parents.
‘I just think students spend 12 years (going to school) and we have (graduation) in a venue like Ultimate Soccer where the parents can’t hear the sound and they’re in the flat seating, so they can’t see what’s going on, on stage,? Reis added. ‘I think (the DTE) venue is excellent. It will have the sound and have big screens where they can see their student. I just think it’s the way to go in my opinion.?
Brasington asked Superintendent Tim Throne where the money will come from.
At this point, Throne said they’ll have to figure that out. ‘Having my own son graduate (at Ultimate Soccer) last year, the comments I received as well as the comments I received this year. I think our last interaction with students and parents should be top notch,? Throne added. ‘We want their last memories (to be) of something that’s really enjoyable. For a few thousand dollars more, I wouldn’t hesitate to say ‘absolutely, I’m behind this 100 percent.??