By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Brandon Twp.– The Class of 2017 is bringing it home for graduation.

Fall is just underway, but Brandon High School seniors are looking forward to commencement and have made their case for hosting the ceremony at a familiar venue— the BHS football stadium.

“The kids are pretty excited about the possibility,” said BHS Principal Dan Stevens. “I’m excited, it’s a good thing. It’s about the kids. If they are excited and that is what they want, it’s my job as principal to make that happen. I’m all for it.”

Skyler Kochan, senior class president, led a petition drive among her fellow classmates and gathered their signatures, said Stevens. She made a compelling argument to the principal about there being no better place to hold graduation than the site where she and her classmates had attended Blackhawks games for the past four years.

For many years, BHS graduation ceremonies were held at Meadowbrook. After the Rochester venue raised prices, Brandon administrators moved the graduation to the Whiting Auditorium in Flint last year.

“The Whiting was a good facility, the senior class just didn’t want to go to another location for graduation,” said Superintendent Matt Outlaw. “The whole senior class signed a petition, and guess what? We’re doing it…I love the idea of having graduation in your own town, using the facilities that taxpayers paid for, going to dinner in your hometown, filling up the gas tank in your hometown, Grandma and Grandpa get to see where you went to school. I love it, I’m excited about it.”

Stevens was planning to meet on Thursday with Athletic Director Chris Deines and Mark Evans, lead maintenance for the district, to discuss the potential for holding commencement exercises at the BHS football complex.

“The two biggest concerns are weather and grandparents, not only if it rains, but what if it’s 90 degrees?” said Stevens. “One of the predominant attendees at graduation are grandparents. If you put them on bleachers, with the sun beating down and hot, it’s a potential issue. Where do you house graduation if it does rain?”

The alternate spot would be the BHS gymnasium, which Stevens said can accommodate a tight 2,000 people. Administrators are also considering streaming graduation exercises on a large screen in the performing arts center for any overflow. Another idea he will propose is having an alternate rain date.

“These are all things we will talk about and see what makes the most sense,” said Stevens, who adds that he is not sure if the plan will save the district money because of the need for rental of chairs, tables, a stage and sound system as well as employees that will be paid to set everything up.

Administration will also have to check with the insurance company to make sure such a plan is permissable, with maximum amount of weight on the artificial turf and more.

“If we have graduation at the Whiting or Meadowbrook, we just walk in, and now we have to do everything,” said Stevens. “It means more work on our part, but it’s well worth it if that is what our kids want. Pending any big things that come up at the meeting, I am 99 percent sure we will move forward. I’m excited for the opportunity and we’ll cross our fingers that Mother Nature cooperates.”