Ne-Ca-Hi parent objects to graduation site

May 23, 2006

By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News


One New Castle High School parent said she wants to watch her daughter take part in a traditional graduation program.

For Desi Scalfari, that means conducting the ceremony at the Scottish Rite Cathedral instead of the district’s new junior-senior high school.

“I have an issue with it being in the new building because it can’t hold everyone,” the Delaware Avenue resident said. “I just think it’s impersonal.”

Approximately 200 New Castle seniors will graduate June 15. Depending on the final seating arrangements, seniors will receive between four and six tickets for family and friends.

That’s not enough for Scalfari, who originally planned to have 11 people in attendance when daughter Carlee receives her diploma.

“I’m just from a different school of thinking where you support your kids,” Scalfari said.

However, George Gabriel, superintendent of schools, and John Sarandrea, high school principal, are quick to counter Scalfari’s contentions.

“The deciding factor was that we have a beautiful junior-senior high school,” Gabriel said. “We want them to be showcased.”

The Cathedral seats more than double the two-tier school auditorium — 2,834 to 1,106. A three-tier structure, the Cathedral holds 918 on the first floor, 1,026 in the first balcony and 890 in the second balcony.

When Scalfari’s other daughter, Amber, graduated three years ago, she had more than 15 relatives and friends attend ceremonies at the Cathedral.

“We set up in the balcony and watched them graduate,” she recalled.

“The Cathedral has always been good enough before, and I don’t understand why it’s not now.”

Sarandrea noted the smaller auditorium forced the district to assign tickets to the senior class. However, he said the school wants to work with parents who request additional tickets.

“There’s always going to be extenuating requests,” Sarandrea said. “We’ll make every accommodation.”

He noted the school is set up for closed-circuit television. Overflow crowds can be placed in the cafeteria to watch the ceremonies. School officials also are asking seniors to return extra tickets so they may be distributed where needed.

“I think it’s a great venue,” Sarandrea said. “The climate will be perfect.”

Money also plays a role in having the event at the high school, Gabriel said. Last year, the district spent $2,800 to use the Cathedral.

Scalfari said that she, like Sarandrea and Gabriel, wants to see the problem resolved. However, she doesn’t expect that the resolution will be to her full satisfaction.

“I’ve talked to my mother and father and told them not to come,” she said. “I couldn’t justify them coming if they aren’t promised a seat.”