Kaneland might move graduation to NIU

Kaneland High School graduates will likely receive their diplomas next May in a ceremony at Northern Illinois University, not the school's gymnasium.

The school district is making plans to rent the NIU Convocation Center because officials don't think another graduate or guest can be squeezed in to the gym, and the graduating classes are expected to keep increasing in size.

"I can't imagine a way to fit another row of graduates," Superintendent Jeff Schuler said Tuesday. And it gets sticky and steamy in the gym, because it is not air-conditioned. Schuler told the school board Monday that after this year's May 30 ceremony, he received plenty of comments about the conditions.

The class of 2010 had 292 graduates. The Class of 2011 will have a handful more, but the Class of 2012 will jump to about 340 graduates. Enrollment projections show the senior classes growing by 10 to 20 students a year after that, Schuler said.

Students have been limited to bringing six guests apiece.

Having an outdoor ceremony has been rejected, because that requires having a backup site if rain threatens, Schuler said.

Moving to NIU would mean changing the traditional day of graduation. Kaneland usually has its ceremony on the last Sunday in May, but the Convocation Center already has a booking for that date. A new date will be set before school resumes in August, Schuler said.

He expects it will cost the district $1,000 to $2,000 more to have the ceremony at NIU than at the school.

Neighboring West Aurora High School has had its ceremonies at the Convocation Center since 2007. It paid $7,300 a year.

The Convocation Center in DeKalb is about 15 miles from the Maple Park school.