Students disappointed that most Broward high school graduations will be moved to gyms – NBC 6 South Florida

High school graduation is still months away, but there’s a controversy already brewing in Broward County Public Schools. The district has decided that most of its high schools will hold graduation ceremonies inside three of its gymnasiums instead of more glamorous venues as they’ve done in past years. 

Most of this year’s graduates will receive their diplomas in another school’s gym – either Dillard High School, Pompano Beach High School, or Blanche Ely High School. All three have large facilities with chairback seats. 

“This is a cost-saving measure. We have the facilities, we haven’t been leveraging them, we’re going to save at minimum, $500,000, and that’s at minimum. We may actually save even more,” said Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. 

Seniors at Fort Lauderdale High School, who will walk the stage at Dillard, told us that compared to graduating at Hard Rock Live, or at NSU’s Rick Case Arena, or at the Broward Centre for the Performing Arts, a high school gym is a downgrade. 

“We’re all accomplishing the same thing; we’ve all worked for 13 years to get to where we are today, and I just don’t think it’s fair that some schools are given more importance regarding their graduation,” said Aracely Plaza-Rubi, a student at Fort Lauderdale High.  

“Broward is like, you guys are second thoughts to these other schools,” said Isaac Socolove, who added that he felt the district was treating him and his peers like second-class citizens. 

That’s because 11 of the district’s biggest schools, including Cypress Bay High and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, will be holding their ceremonies at outside venues. Hepburn said the graduating classes from those 11 schools are too big to use the gymnasiums.

“People who are graduating at gyms, they’re spending zero dollars,” said student Angelica Fernandez. 

“Nothing is wrong with graduating at Dillard specifically,” said another Fort Lauderdale High student, Madison Halloran. “What’s wrong is that we don’t have a venue, there’s no money being spent on the gym, compared to about 15 to 20-thousand being spent on NSU and Hard Rock Live.”

Hepburn stands by the decision to save money, especially at a time when every dollar is being scrutinized. 

“Because we can accommodate the number of guests, guarantee four tickets per student, and the kids on the floor and having the same amazing decorations, same amazing pageantry, all the things that we’re used to, you will see in these facilities,” Hepburn said.