Protesting Possible Graduation Venue Change, Students Take to Facebook

Under threat of losing a borough tradition, seniors at Glen Rock High School are mobilizing on Facebook to prevent a change of venue for the 2012 graduation.

The . Should the school board choose option one and start construction in the spring, there's a solid chance the high school graduation, Relay for Life and general school events will have to move from the football field elsewhere.

Should the school board choose to delay work on the fields – the preferred option for students – it would likely mean fall sports are canceled, costs could escalate and work may prove difficult in the winter months.

Set up by student government leaders of the senior class, a poll on the Facebook group page "What's Your Opinion? : GRHS Sports Complex Renovation" predictably displays the wishes of the students – as of Thursday, 112 votes favor delaying construction, 11 voters claim to be indifferent and 6 prefer a construction timeline that could push graduation off-site. 

"Why the hell don't they do everything but the football field now. Then we graduate and they do the football field then? Does that not make sense???????" asked one commenter. Another replied, as officials have indicated, construction may require drainage to be addressed at both fields concurrently.

Others in the group, which numbers nearly 480, remark that "it's a tradition" and the loss of some fall games would pale in comparison to the loss of school activities and especially graduation. Several commenters say every Glen Rock student "deserves" to walk on the football field in June.

Bid proposals on the project – – are to be arriving in late February. Other options had been presented over recent years, but they'd at least double the cost of the project, Operations Committee Chairman Carlo Cella said at a recent school board meeting.

A decision to award a contract could be made March 26, officials said. If things go smoothly – and there's no promise they will given the nature of construction, weather and the public process – heavy equipment could be plopped on the athletic complex with safety fences wrapping the perimeter by May or June. Work, under that scenario, could be ending in September in time for fall sports.

Officials maintain no decisions have yet been made.

The is expected to cast its vote on whether the plan presented by the school board sufficiently solves the long-standing drainage issues. That vote, however, is just a courtesy review and the school board is not legally compelled to follow its recommendations.

In a break from the tension, the most popular suggestion per "Facebook Likes," is that the entire back area of the school be transformed into a "lazer tag arena."

Students and local environmental groups protesting the possible loss of several mature trees, are expected to attend the planning board meeting in Borough Hall Thursday night. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.