AGAWAM – For the third consecutive year, there will be an on-campus ceremony for graduating high school seniors. But unlike the past two graduations, this is a choice, not a necessity.

The School Committee voted 5-2 at its March 8 meeting to approve a resolution to host the 2022 graduation ceremonies outside at the high school, instead of returning to Springfield Symphony Hall. The ceremonies are scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 4, with a rain date of June 5.

The vote ends a more than 30-year tradition of hosting graduation at Symphony Hall. Prior to using that venue, graduation took place for many years at the Coliseum building on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began two years ago, School Superintendent Sheila Hoffman said, Agawam was one of the only districts in the region to conduct a semblance of a graduation by hosting a drive-through outdoor ceremony at the junior high school. The 2021 graduation again took place outdoors, but on a stage on the practice field outside the high school stadium.

A committee workshop on March 1 discussed potential graduation sites. Because it is so late in the school year, Hoffman told the committee that the only two venues being considered were Symphony Hall and the high school practice field. The consensus reached by the committee at the workshop was to have this year’s graduation outdoors at the high school.

Shelley Borgatti-Reed and Dawn DeMatteo both voted “no,” preferring Symphony Hall.

During the discussion on the resolution, Borgatti-Reed said the Springfield venue offers students a “well done, classy, and professional” graduation. She added that while it was a “great idea” to conduct graduation outside, she had concerns about the weather putting additional stress on parents and administrators.

DeMatteo called it “a tough decision and a very difficult vote” to not support the resolution. Instead, she said she was going with her “gut feeling.”

DeMatteo said she liked Symphony Hall and agreed with Borgatti-Reed about the stress of having graduation outside. She added that regardless of where graduation takes place, “memories are going to be made” and it will be “a perfect day.”

At the end of the meeting, DeMatteo explained that even though she voted no on the resolution, she had “an extreme amount of confidence” in Hoffman and Agawam High School Principal Jim Blain. She concluded by saying she “wished for a magical and memorable day for students, their families, and their friends.”

Committee members who favored the high school location cited community spirit as one of their prime reasons. Last year, one of Wendy Rua’s sons graduated at the high school’s outdoor ceremony. She said that having graduation outside allowed the community to be part of the festivities by honking their horns in support of the seniors as they drove by the high school.

“It was very memorable. Having our students graduate outside adds a very wonderful community spirit to graduation,” said Rua.

Michael Perry echoed Rua’s comments, but added that he understood Borgatti-Reed’s perspective of Symphony Hall being a “great venue.” He said having graduation at the high school “gives us a little more opportunity to celebrate our students as a community because more people can attend.”

“I absolutely support having graduation outside,” said Kerri O’Connor. “There’s definitely a community feel to it – and I’m looking forward to that experience.” Most important, she added, is that graduation is “for our kids” and is a memorable day for their families.

Kailey Butler, who serves as the nonvoting student representative on the committee and is a member of the class of 2022, was asked how she and other seniors feel about where their graduation should take place. She said some students indicated they weren’t in favor of Symphony Hall because of the need for families to arrive two hours early and the limited seating for them.

“While some students did say they would like graduation to be at Symphony Hall because there’s less stress about weather, others said that having it outside allows for more flexibility for seating,” Butler added.

Comments that Butler heard from her classmates mirrored the responses from a survey that Hoffman sent to parents and students asking for their feedback on the graduation site. At the workshop meeting, she said that parents and students were evenly split on whether they preferred Symphony Hall or an outdoor setting at the high school.

Hoffman also shared that the cost of a graduation at Symphony Hall has increased significantly since 2019, the last time graduation took place at the facility. That year, the cost was nearly $15,000, while the 2022 graduation would cost nearly $24,000.

She also explained that the facility is under new ownership and that the higher cost also includes salaries for four police officers, an EMT, and $2,000 for an optional live streaming of the ceremony. Hoffman also pointed out that tickets for seating at the facility would be limited.

Blain, who also attended the workshop, showed aerial views of possible seating and stage placement on the school’s stadium turf. He explained that the band and chorus would perform in their own area.

Hoffman said the stage for the 2022 graduation will be smaller than last year’s, but there will be approximately 1,900 white chairs for students, parents and dignitaries who will be sitting on the stadium turf. The projected cost for hosting gradation at the high school in June is about $21,000. The School Department has budgeted $25,000 for graduation expenses.