Foley Field Graduation WILL Happen!
Following Tuesday night's public protest, Superintendent Jason Bing announced Wednesday that the school district has decided to hold the high school graduation ceremony at Foley Field after all
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Bloomfield High School seniors will be having their graduation ceremony at Foley Field after all.
The news came as a surprise to many on Wednesday afternoon, 24 hours after students were told their graduation ceremony would be held in the gym.
Bloomfield School Superintendent Jason Bing reversed the decision, following a protest by students at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.
The outpouring of emotion appeared to make its mark on the school administration.
--“The BHS admin is meeting with students to discuss options - a decision will be made on or before Friday in regards to holding graduation at Foley Field,” Bing told Patch by email early Wednesday.
--A couple of hours later he wrote: “Graduation will be held at Foley - logistics are currently being worked out.”
At the BOE meeting Tuesday, upwards of thirty students and parents took to the podium to protest the idea of a gym graduation.
“Foley Field is clearly very important to us,” student Alex Colucci told the board, “Please don't take that away from us.”
Another student and her father pointed out that taxpayers, who approved the $2.9 million referendum three years ago were promised that their children would be able to graduate on Foley Field. “Why were we told when we were voting for Foley Field that we’d be able to use it for graduation, when all along they knew we wouldn’t be able to use it?” said the student, Alexis Celluro.
When BOE student representative Joshua John demanded to know “What exactly is preventing us from graduating at Foley Field?” School Board Administrator Michael Derderian replied that chairs should not be used on artificial turf.
In fact, folding chairs were placed on the running track, as well as a ground cover, for the Foley Field Opening Ceremony last September.
BOE President Mary Shaughnessy said on Wednesday afternoon that Bing and Bloomfield High School principal Chris Jennings were working out the details and expressed optimism that a favorable arrangement would be reached.
“It’s a very emotional issue for Bloomfielders,” she said.
Terry Doemling
8:19 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
What I think the students fail to realize is the potential that this will not be a better situation, unless simply being at Foley makes it worth the cost. Will there be more than 2 tickets available to them at Foley with the current capacity, and will they lose the live feed of the ceremony that has been possible in the past few years...?
Karen Banda
8:19 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wonderful! Congratulations kids. Maybe we can urge you to storm the BoH meeting next week? We volunteers would love to get back into the shelter but we old folk seem to be extremely resistible. Maybe they'll listen to you, too!
Mia Celluro
9:40 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
I think the students made it VERY clear last night, that their wish was to graduate from Foley Field if possible. They were also clear that concessions might have to be made, as is usual with most situations... a compromise is made. Why the negativity? The students fought for something that was IMPORTANT TO THEM. They were respectful, knowledgeable and most importantly... heard.
Alexis Celluro
9:40 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Simply being at Foley makes it worth the cost. We understand and realize all sides of the situation. The argument was never to have more tickets, only to make use of the facility that was built for our community, and our school, to use. It's about the sentiment, the tradition, and the pride behind graduating at Foley.
Lorraine Gerling
9:38 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
Congratulations kids.....what wonderful news, it gave me goose bumps!!!!
Leonor Lipari
9:38 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
They are very fortunate they made this decision because this is one taxpayer that would be very angry if that field was not available to the students for graduation. We were forced into that vote and that was one of the bargaining tools...but it would not have been the first time we were lied to by this administration. Good for these young people for standing up for what they believe.