Updated
9/28/2010
Is the video from the Class of 2010's graduation available for purchase?
There are still a few copies available--free of charge--in the main office. Please contact the high school to make arrangements.
Updated
9/23/2010
Since the Class of 2011's graduation will be at the high school, does that mean that future classes will still have a choice between DCS and Proctors?
The board's decision to return graduation ceremonies to the high school gymnasium resulted in the district having to relinquish its reservation on the Saturday night slot at Proctor's Theater. In fact, Proctor's Theater may not be an option in the future. There are no plans to revisit this topic in the near future.
Updated
8/24/2010
I just received my school calendar in the mail, why does it say graduation at Proctor? Did the BOE already decide this? Why would it be in print?
The Class of 2011 graduation location has not yet been decided. It was erroneously printed in the calendar. (Please see note in the district newsletter that was inserted in the calendar with the correction.) The board will make a decision at the last board meeting in September. We are sorry for the confusion, but the graduation date for June 2011 was printed by mistake.
Updated
8/24/2010
Why is it that the PowerPoints from the 2010 graduation are not available online like they have been in the past? Is this just yet another pitfall of having the ceremony at Proctor's?
The graduation ceremony PowerPoint presentations have never been posted on the district's website. However, an employee of the district has in the past maintained a personal website at www.duanesburgcentral.org where some school events photos and PowerPoints have been posted. This year's graduation ceremony has not yet been posted on his webpage not because of a change in venue but rather a change in responsibility regarding the PowerPoint presentation. The district hopes to have the graduation PowerPoint available (at above address) soon.
Updated
8/10/2010
The board has asked for residents/students input regarding the DCS or Proctor's graduation issue. For those opting to send their comments via email, who is actually reading/collecting them and when and how will they be shared with the public?
The district's communications coordinator accesses the graduation account, compiles all of the e-mails and sends them to the superintendent who passes the e-mail comments along to all board members. Every e-mail is viewed and shared.
Updated
7/20/2010
Students were under the impression that they would be able to vote on where next year's graduation ceremony will be held. Are the "graduation location selection" postcards that were sent home to incoming seniors to fill out just for show?
At the end of September, the Board of Education will decide whether to host future graduation ceremonies at Proctor's Theater or in the Duanesburg High School gymnasium.
To help them make this decision, board members are asking residents (including students) to provide them with input about past and future graduation ceremonies. Residents are encouraged to share their feedback during one of the "privilege of the floor" sections at the August and September board meetings. (Board Meeting Schedule) The postcards are being collected by High School Principal Beth DeLuke, who will deliver student responses to the Board. The Board will consider all responses when they make their decision.
In an effort to help community members provide informed feedback, the video of this year's graduation at Proctor's Theater is available to anyone who would like to review the ceremony. Please contact Principal Beth DeLuke at 895-2355 to request a copy.
If community members are unable to attend one of the four board meeting, their input can be shared with board members via e-mail at graduation@duanesburg.org. (Please note: This e-mail address is for graduation ceremony input only. Please do not submit questions. Contact the board directly if you have any questions.)
Updated
7/20/2010
I can't seem to find the graduation pictures on the listed website, where can I find them?
Here is the link. The password is Class of 2010.
Updated
7/12/2010
How many people used the bus provided for graduation?
Two seniors rode the bus to their graduation ceremony.
Updated
7/06/2010
What was the cost of graduation? Who actually funded the BOE reception?
The cost of this year's graduation ceremony at Proctor's was $3000 per contract. The district incurs approximately half that cost ($1500) when hosting the ceremony at the school. Therefore, the additional $1500 cost for this year's ceremony was supported in full by donations and fundraising efforts. The BOE paid for the after-graduation reception, and the graduation cake was donated by Hannaford. Additionally, one school bus, at the cost of $100, was used to transport anyone to and from Proctor's Theater who wanted to attend the ceremony.
Updated
7/06/2010
I attended graduation last evening and I would like to say what a beautiful ceremony it was. Beth DeLuke and the class advisors should be recognized for their hard work in putting together such an amazing evening for our children. It was so well organized and special. It was nice that all family members could attend and sit comfortably during the ceremony. Hopefully, this will be a ceremony that we have for years to come at Proctors!!!
Updated
7/06/2010
Will the BOE have a reception for every graduating class now that they have started this new tradition?
The Board has not made any definite decisions about future graduation ceremonies. There was space available (at no cost) at Proctor's following Duanesburg's graduation ceremony, and the Board opted to celebrate the event with a small reception that they funded. Additionally, Hannaford grocery store donated a large graduation cake to the Class of 2010, which was served at the reception.
Updated
6/22/2010
What happened to the tradition of keeping graduation in the gym? Does the Superintendent and the board have the power to decide what traditions stay in DCS?
There were questions about this year's graduation ceremony posted on the Eagle's Nest earlier in the year. Please refer to the archive box found at the bottom of this page.
Updated
6/15/2010
Is it true that the president of the board will be the one handing out the diplomas at graduation this year?
Yes, the board president will continue to hand out diplomas at graduation. It's a long-standing tradition (going back more than 30 years) that the president of the board deliver diplomas to graduates.
Updated
5/11/2010
I am curious as to when the present junior class will be contacted about graduation for them. I feel it would not be a very good idea to wait till the school year is over. All the students are in school now I think it would be much more fair to be in touch with everyone in May while they are still in school than to try by email.. A mandatory class meeting would be as fair as and as informative as you could get. What is the response to this?
The district is asking parents and students to withhold judgment until after this year's graduation ceremony. To that end, district officials agreed to seek input from the junior class, their families and community members following this year's ceremony. To solicit feedback now would not be in the best interest of students or their families because they would not have the benefit of experiencing a ceremony at Proctors.
Updated
4/12/2010
Since this year’s graduating class is going against years of having graduation at their own school that they should be proud of and want to graduate from I feel they should pay the $18.00 to graduate at Proctors. Our school board has much more important issues to address than asking for donations and doing fundraising for these seniors. They should be ashamed of themselves for making this a district issue when they are the selfish ones who want to break tradition. I certainly hope future classes go back to graduating at DCS. What is happening to our traditions? Don't use the excuse it is hard to hear and uncomfortable to use our gym. I have sat through many graduations there and it is just fine. The bleachers are not the most comfortable to sit on but what is an hour out of your time to support the graduating class. Take a pad with you to set on if you are that uncomfortable. Have you checked out the bleachers when a basketball game is going on? It's often standing room only and those games are longer than graduation and no one complains about it being uncomfortable. Budget cuts are looming and moving graduation to Proctors is a total waste of money. Yes I know no taxpayers money is used this year but what about the next and the next?
Graduation at Proctor’s Theatre is being held on a one-year trial basis this year. The district has not made any decisions regarding future ceremonies.
Updated
3/9/2010
If the cost difference for graduation at Proctors is really only the mere $18 per senior the district insists, why are the seniors not willing/able to pay for it themselves?
In response to community concerns about the additional cost, the Board of Education agreed to take on all fundraising efforts. Seniors have not been asked to take on fundraising for this initiative.
Updated
3/9/2010
As I understand it, the $3000 cost of holding graduation at Proctors is only the price of using the facility. Won't there be an additional cost for the programs, flowers, and other materials used at the ceremony?
No, it includes the rental fee, labor costs to run the performance and graduation materials, including programs. Flowers will be provided by the junior class as they have been in the past.
Updated
2/1/2010
Why are there donations being sought and an option for fundraisers for the graduation at Proctors if the Board already decided that the funds are coming from extra money in the budget?
In response to concerns about the additional cost, the Board of Education agreed this summer not to fund the difference using monies from the 2009-10 budget. To that end, donations are currently being accepted and plans are underway for other fundraising opportunities.
posted
10/27/2009
Duanesburg received a grant from Proctors back in July? This only became know to taxpayers recently. Why? This certainly makes the entire Proctors issue look fishy.
The superintendent learned that Proctor's Theatre offered grants to schools during a district superintendent meeting held at the facility in July. Shortly after that meeting, the administrative team as well as several interested teachers visited the site to learn more about the programming and how it could enhance student's learning experiences. They all agreed it was an exciting initiative and decided to pursue the grant. In August, the district was notified that it had been awarded a $10,000 grant, which allows elementary, middle and high school students to attend Proctor's events free of charge. An article was posted on the district Web site and September newsletter at that time. Whether or not graduation was held at Proctor's, the district would have accepted the grant.
posted
8/11/2009
The class of 2010 voted by email on their graduation location. Will the members of following classes be able to vote when their time comes, perhaps in junior homerooms when all students will be present and aware of the vote? I was told that not all of the 2010 members were aware of the email poll.
The Junior Class did not vote on the
location—they were surveyed to get a sense of how they would feel about
having graduation at Proctors. The survey was conducted to help the
board and administration make an informed decision about changing the
location and its impact on students for which the day is intended.
Graduation at Proctor’s Theatre is being held on a one-year trial basis
this year. The district has not made any decisions regarding future
ceremonies. The location will be re-evaluated after the ceremony, and
input will be sought from class advisors, parents and students at that
time.
posted
8/11/2009
Who pays for graduation, the graduating class or the school district? It seems irresponsible to me that a district which is still having to make tough decisions because of recent financial issues would even consider paying more than double the price of a local graduation.
The Duanesburg Board of Education and administration agreed that paying an additional $1,000-$1,500 to hold graduation at Proctor’s would be well worth the investment to provide students, families and community members with a memorable ceremony, in which everyone could be comfortably seated and better able to hear keynote speakers and graduates names being announced as they receive their diplomas. See response on payment dated August 6.
posted
8/11/2009
According to a response about the graduation being held at Proctors next year, it says a survey was taken. Can you provide us with details of this survey, such as who took it, when and what the results were?
See response below.
posted
8/11/2009
I would like to know, in regards to graduation being moved to Proctors, what was the class vote? Was it a majority decision? What were the exact figures? Seems like a complete waste of taxpayer money. Nothing wrong with our gym! Graduation has been beautiful there.
The Junior Class advisor e-mailed members of the Junior Class in mid June to get their input on holding graduation at Proctor’s Theatre. Of the 80 class members, 37 students favored the move while five students were opposed and five students indicated no preference and the remaining students did not respond.
posted
8/11/2009
Regarding graduation change... why do we need to change at all?
The district is responding to complaints made by
parents, students and community members who have expressed their
unhappiness with the existing set-up in the high school gym—citing
uncomfortable seats, length of the ceremony and difficulty seeing and
hearing graduates and speakers.
Because graduation is such a momentous occasion for everyone involved,
the district felt it would be irresponsible not to address these
concerns. Because many Schenectady County school districts already use
Proctor’s Theatre for commencement, the district began exploring the
benefits of holding a ceremony at their facility, and found that
Proctors offers many benefits, such as more seating capacity, cushioned
seats, air-conditioning, a state-of-the-art sound system and acoustics.
Proctor’s staff would also be available to help run the ceremony.
Feedback will be sought from families and students following graduation
to determine whether future ceremonies should be held at Proctors
Theatre or return to the high school.
posted
8/6/2009
Who is paying for the graduation ceremony being moved to Schenectady? The graduating class or the taxpayers? Thank You.
UPDATE 2/1/10: In response to concerns about the additional cost, the Board of Education agreed this summer not to fund the difference using monies from the 2009-10 budget. To that end, donations are currently being accepted and plans are underway for other fundraising opportunities.
The rental fees to hold graduation at Proctor’s Theatre will be completely funded by the school district budget. We were able to do this without adding money to the budget due to savings that occurred in other areas. For example, a senior staff member retired and is being replaced by a newer faculty member who commands a lower salary. Some of the savings that were realized from this will be used to fund graduation, among other initiatives next year.
posted
7/30/2009
I would like to know who decided next years graduation was leaving the building and at what is the cost? Hoping you are brave enough to find an answer and this question does not get swept under the rug!!!
The rental fee for Proctor's is $1,500 plus
labor to run the performance, which is billed hourly and can run up to
an additional $1,500.
Although Proctor's rental fee is approximately $3,000—the
differential to the district is actually half that cost. Each year, the
district spends approximately $1,455 to hold graduation at the high
school, which covers the cost of running extra utilities, printing
graduation materials and paying custodians overtime.
Learn more about the decision where to hold the event in the response, dated July 9, below.
Is it true Graduation ceremonies are to be held at Proctors Theater next year? That takes all the tradition away from our school! I don't want to walk across the stage there. I want to walk across the same stage my mom did....who can I contact to find out about this?
After much consideration and a survey of the junior class, Duanesburg High School's graduation ceremony will be held at Proctors Theater in Schenectady for the first time ever next year. While this is a break from tradition, the district felt the theater may be better able to accommodate students, their families and friends. Many of the other traditions will continue such as graduates receiving flowers from a family member or friend, the student slideshow and a reception held by the Junior Class. The new location will be re-evaluated after next year and a decision will be made whether or not to hold future ceremonies at the theater.
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