How much are we paying for this?

What the.......you gotta be kidding me.....drive to DeKalb.....which moron thought of this?

You're telling me Waubonsee in Sugar Grove was unavailable?

Will there be shuttle service for the less fortunate families and elderly that may not be able to drive?

Not sure who is going to actually need those 10 extra tickets if it involves transporting everyone almost an hour away.
Can't believe with the additions to both schools that there is not an onsite space that can accommodate the turnout.

This seems crazy to me....if it's raining, you only get X number of tickets. A million years ago when I graduated HS, that is how it was...if it was nice, the whole neighborhood could attend and sit outside...inside, each student received 4 tickets. This is how it was a few weeks ago when my niece graduated from St. Charles...why do we need a college auditorium? Especially if that comes at an added expense. Wasteful, in my opinion.

"Thank you very much, your school board will be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress."

Oh wait, you mean this isn't a comedy club? I guess I should stop laughing...

Let me guess...the BOE didn't solicit any input from the public on this issue before making this decision.

I really wished I attended the last SB meeting because honestly, this is one of the worst recommendations I've seen the administration put forward. I looked at Board Doc's and it says "we" who is we from the administration?

Also, there's no mention of financials listed either, all it shows is a sample contract. What's the cost and will these 10 tickets be free or not since we now have to pay for the venue. NIU is not going to give it away for free folks....

Russ, excellent point. Perhaps running shuttle bus services from both High School using D308 busses should be looked at.

Alittle background as to why would have been helpful in the article. Is the construction at both high schools causing problems? growing class sizes?

If you listen to the BOE meeting about this, we can actually save a little money. The costs were outlined during the meeting. If you watch the video, you can hear the details also. Our administrators have to be meteorologists to guess how the weather will be on graduation day. There have been incidents of elderly having a difficult time with the heat. Indoors is much better with our unpredictable and sometimes hot Chicago late May/early June weather. The only venue that can adequately accommodate our size with parking is NIU. West Aurora graduates from NIU, and other districts are outgrowing their current venue and are seriously considering NIU. I'm glad we signed the contract with them. Jill Ko

Someone on the board must have a graduate next year and wants everyone to attend. A couple of tickets per family is enough. I hate the idea of driving to Dekalb for a high school graduation. The other pubic schools in the area handle this why can't Oswego.

West Aurora has been doing this. I actually don't mind it. My daughter will be a junior this year. It's only a one-year plan to try it, then decide.

I've updated the story with the total cost. It's actually down a little from the cost of holding graduations at both high schools, according to district officials.

Andre, thank you for updating the story with the costs.

Like Jill, I was also at the meeting where this was first proposed. Because the class sizes are going to be much bigger with the additions, the number of tickets per student/family will be even fewer if they stayed at school. I'm not thrilled about it, but it's just another lovely side effect of a 3200 capacity HS.

I think it's a good idea because when we went a couple of years ago to Oswego's graduation it was extremely hot outside and almost unbearable. I felt bad for the grad's with their black gowns on. It was also very uncomfortable to sit in bleachers and it was very busy. I know a lot of people who would love the chance to bring up to 10 people. With extended families these days sometimes 4 isn't enough. No-one is ever happy. DeKalb isn't an hour drive and it's only a one time event so is gas costs really an issue.

Ok so...are the graduations of OHS & OEHS combined at the same time? Are they separate on the same day or different days? I always thought this was the wanna-be naperville but I guess it's now the wanna-be West Aurora. Hell..everyone else is going there we may as well too. utter nonsense. Live with 3200 cap. schools? utter nonsense. I attended Lane Tech in Chicago. OEHS and OHS COMBINED TOTAL is close to the attendance at Lane. Graduating class normally were 900 - 1200. It was held in the stadium. Rain plan....there were usually three days. If it rained out all three, which it never did, it went into the auditorium with a loss of available seating. Now I have been to ceremonies at OHS both in and out. Granted the gym is not the best venue. Outside can be hot. However, graduation is for the graduate, yeah we all want to see Johnny walk across the stage but does great-great aunt Jane who no one really remembers need to be there? Does the friend of so in so need to come? For some families who really can't bring themselves to say only these people can come, I suppose NIU is a great idea. It will be dramatic, air conditioned and all together fitting and proper for people of the stature found in West Oswegoville. However....looking on google maps it's roughly a 50 minute, 38 mile ride EACH WAY. God fobid there is an accident there or back. Especially if it's not a nice sunny day but a driving rain storm.

The article states that they would be at different times on the same day, as it was this year.

Where the heck did this LAME idea come from? I don't want to drive out to DeKalb for my kids' graduations! How do these things get passed without ever being publicized?!
NOT HAPPY about this one AT ALL.

You people make we laugh at what you complain about. The day of Graduation is your kids day, not yours, so stop complaining about where it is going to be held, and actually try and be happy that your Son/Daughter has made this step in their life and finished High School. I for one, will go where ever they may have this event to show my child on that day how proud I am of her.

Also when your kids attend out of state Colleges are you going to complain you have to travel to said University to see your son/daughter graduate from there.........Will it seems like you would since this is an issue for their High School graduation. The me mentality has to stop.

I don't see the big deal, but then I graduated from a HS where the event was held off site at a now demolished concert venue. Amazingly, it was welcomed because it meant more families could celebrate. Everything wasn't so doom and gloom then, I guess.

I think this is a great idea - Distirct 204 has been doing this for sometime now and they have the graduations all in one day spaced out accordingly. 10:00am, 2:00pm and 6:00pm all on a Saturday. You are able to receive 10 tickets per family if needed. You don't need to worry about being bused from a middle school because you could'nt find parking in the lot. My son just graduated this year and the wind was just horrible - couldn't hear the speakers or the music and I couldn't tell you how many caps went flying around. Great idea District 308!!!!!

Neuqua's was at NIU this year. It all has to do with size of class and audience. It went well for them, so hopefully ours will go well, too. There will be unhappy people no matter where it is. People like to complain, it seems.

Not sure if this will be the case in 4 years when it is my turn to attend one of these, but I have to say I don't mind the drive to DeKalb for graduation.

But then again at this point I think if the school board reported they had a dog that could walk on top of the water some folks would complain that it couldn't swim..

Having a recent high school graduate and knowing what I know from families that had graduates in the previous couple of years, having limited tickets is difficult and frustrating situation to deal with every year. I never thought about it until it was my own kid graduating- but here's how it works for those of you who don't know. Each student gets 8 tickets if weather is good- 3 of those are for my hubby, son and myself. All of our extended family (and we are not a big family!) live out of town, so when my hubby's parents wanted to travel here- that was 2 more tickets. If my parents would want to attend, that would've been 2 more! That leaves 1. What happens one of her 2 aunts or uncles would want to attend? And if they traveled and brought their kids? Not enough tickets. THEN if it rained- we'd go down to 4, so for everyone who traveled, they'd watch on a big screen in the auditorium or miss out and stay at the house until it was all over. So, then begins the scramble asking around to anyone not using their tickets. We were lucky that we only needed ONE extra we could get from a friend AND that it didn't rain. That said, it was a hot, super windy day that day- some elderly had to be very uncomfortable. The graduates were having their caps fly off and it was not ideal- though we were happy to all be there! Yes, there'd be a bit of a drive to NIU- but most of us happily go into the city for a game, or out to eat or commute for work! I'd do it for graduation!

I think it is a great idea . The school does not have enough room inside or outside for the number of graduates & their families to watch the ceremony in comfort , not to mention parking . It is a positive step to provide ample space & provide the ability to have several family members at graduation . There is no reason to complain . If you have been to a graduation you there you would agree .

You have got to be kidding me! So what if just the parents get to go? Deal with it! Yes, I do only have one child. In my opinion this is crazy! What's next???

It's a great solution, and one that other school districts came to sooner than 308. The drive is relatively short, despite the miles for the convenience of parking and comfort of space, and climate control. It is a once in a lifetime event for each child in your family, is it that much of a hassle? I feel the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of some travel. I'm guessing that those who don't care about the number of tickets don't come from or haven't considered families that include step parents and siblings. It's a big day for many and family shouldn't have decide who will stay at home and who will go. Elderly, children, and those with health concerns should be able to attend and support their loved ones in a comfortable environment(particularly as these ceremonies get longer and longer with more graduates). Parking should be ample for everyone attending as well for convenience and safety. 308 was able to achieve all of that without costing anyone even so much as an extra penny. Bravo to them for finally taking all things under consideration and comin up with this solution, even if several of the districts around them figured it out first.

Sorry but as the parents of five kids, we welcome this change in location. Not being able to bring the younger (or older) siblings to the graduation. To watch and admire an older sibling or to feel proud of your younger sibling for reaching this milestone has always been a graduation downer for our family. These events are to be celebrated with your immediately family, if no one else! With child number three graduating next year we will finally get to all sit together and watch him. I hope the new location will work out well and be around for kids 4 & 5. So we'll have to drive a little ways to watch them walk across the stage. In my eyes the drive is very much worth it.

If it takes an hour to get to Dekalb that is the same as going to the far side of Naperville. Not that bad. I do think they have to provide some transportation for those who need it.

Well I didn't really mean to touch off a battle on this subject but it is interesting to read the comments. I drive about 125 miles a day on average so a trip to DeKalb is no big deal especially since I will have to do it only once. As for the choices to be made as to who goes and who doesn't. Ladies, Gents and Recent Graduates, do you think you are the first people to face this? I faced it a number of years ago. Plenty of other families have had to sit on graduation day and look to the sky with plan A and plan B in place. Many of them had to make the choice and it is disappointing to be sure if great grandma can't see johnny walk across the stand. With three tickets it;s tough to tell a sister she can't see her sister graduate. So I guess I'm trying to figure out why now, we have had large classes for years. So for those of you who are up and coming, enjoy it, there are lots of people who didn't get to.

I didn't know that there could be same user names on the Patch. I did not post the most recent comment under Jill. May need to change my user name... Jill Ko

My son is the class of 2014 and I am hoping they have it at NIU that year as well. Having graduation outdoors when it is blazing hot is flat out stupid. A 45 minute drive to Dekalb just isn't a big deal.

I had a daughter that graduated in 2007 and have a daughter graduating in 2013. I am very pleased with having it at NIU. It is very hard when you are divorced. We only got 4 tickets,so her siblings could not go. Very pleased with this decision!!

I just had to add a positive comment regarding NIU's Convocation Center as a location. District 204 had been using College of DuPage for years, and we at Neuqua Valley were still limited in number of tickets (in 2010 each grad got only 2). In 2011 there was a tornado warning, and not enough shelter for all the grads and guests--it brought to mind the potential dangers of groups of people that large. We were disappointed to learn we would have to drive to Dekalb for the 2012 graduation (even further than from Oswego). Our experience at NIU could not have been better! Very well run by the staff there, plenty of parking, acoustics and views wonderful, washrooms very adequate, very comfortable for all including elderly/handicapped. It changed our minds completely, and I had a slightly negative mindset going into it. Also, it was in the upper 90s that day, and anywhere else certainly would have been uncomfortable for all. So, given the larger high school classes in 308 and crowds, you may agree next year that the District 308 Board has made a very good decision.

10 tickets for family members! I assume these family members pay taxes to our District or is this just another freebie? Give tickets to the taxpayers and charge for extras.

Let grandma and granpa attend the kid's graducation party and they won't think twice about missing a ceremony.

They had to mention the cost of tickets. You can buy a roll of tickets at Office Max for about $15 per thousand; or is that too cheap for this District?

And online streaming of the ceremony? Are you freakin kidding me? When does the spending stop? Bring your own darn camcorder or iPhone and broadcast it yourself.

I am simply amazed at the complaining here. Some people are never happy. I would love to know how many of the complainers here actually have a child graduating next year. I do, and I welcome the change. Let's see, I can invite more family members, I don't have to sit outside in bad weather, and I can actually hear the ceremony, and no one will be uncomfortable. Parking will be easy. I'll drive a little extra for that, sure!! My daughter is ok with it as well, because she knows that her family will be there, and it should be a beautiful ceremony. Geez.........

While I understand why the need to go offsite, I just wonder why the board couldn't get a place closer. What about families that fly in and now we don't have enough car space because NIU is so far away we can't make a couple trips. The cost to families will be more too. We already pay enough. This school has messed up the senoir year enough by going back to traditional scheduling for our kids senior year. It is our kids day, but a little consideraration to the parents would be nice. I just hope we will actually get to "see" our kids get their diplomas.

@parent of a senior...so when would it be ok for them to switch to a traditional schedule? After your kid graduates so it goofs up someone elses kid? Or maybe in two years when it will mess with someone else. They should have never switched to block in the first place.

Another adminstrator just resigned!! On the 308 website!!

Am I the only one who doesn't understand why 12K is an acceptable number for cost of graduation? This is a one day event so it should be like 4-5K for a typical college rental, which leaves 7-8K for tickets and streaming video?

Graduation is for the student and the immediate family members - mom, dad and brothers/sisters. Graduation parties are where you invite everyone under the sun, not the actual graduation ceremony.

It amazes me when it comes to transportation in Oswego. People have no issues sitting in traffic because the roads are not built for the amount of traffic we have. People do not want Metra because they say people can drive to Aurora or the Route 59 Station, but yet when it comes to a special ocassion like a graduation then complain once again for having to drive for 45-60 minutes. I bet these same people would have no issues driving to the United Center or Soldier Field for an event.

I have a student in the class of 2013 as well as one who just graduated at OHS. it is a little sad that they will not be graduating at their high school, but I do welcome the graduation at NIU. This year’s graduation brought many paramedics to the scene because of the heat; parking was crazy due to a soccer tournament the same day at the soccer fields next to the high school - who ok’ed that?? Going to NIU is a good idea, but I do wish the board would have asked the kids and parents what they thought - it would have a least been a nice gesture.

I just graduated in 2011 from OHS. We got 4 tickets for people to sit in the gym and 2 people got to sit in the auditorm. 6 total and the people who couldnt be there got to see me at my graduation party. Even though it was inside that it was still super cool. I didnt see a need to change locations. Students like it at the school why not do what the students want on their day. Plus some people only needed two tickets so they would gove there extras to families that needed them.

here's a suggestion...a naperville school this year held the graduation at their school but had 2 ceremonies, they split it by last names A-L at one time and M-Z at another. I think it's a great idea and should be considered instead of inconveniencing alot of people.