Liberty Ranch 2013 graduation venue has been picked

Class of 2013 student body officers at Liberty Ranch High School have unanimously voted to hold the school's second graduation at Memorial Auditorium.

The decision to hold last year's graduation there caused an upheaval among some school board members concerned with possible higher costs and accessibility of friends and family wishing to attend the ceremony.

To accommodate this school year's graduation location, the Galt Joint Union High School District board of trustees will vote tonight on whether to allow Liberty Ranch to switch graduation dates with Estrellita High School because of a scheduling conflict with Memorial.

Trustees will also be asked to approve the project costs for the graduation ceremony.

Any cost above $4,500 would be borne by the Class of 2013, according to a report to be discussed tonight.

The actual venue contract will come before the school board at a later date, according to Superintendent Matthew Roberts.

He said there was a school-level graduation committee of students, parents, administrators and teachers that researched venues this year. "It is my understanding that graduation has been set for this year," Roberts said.

Trustees Angela DaPrato and Kathleen Amos voted against holding last year's inaugural ceremony in Sacramento.

Amos said it would set a precedence for future graduating classes, and she took issue with holding the event outside city limits when there are city parks and other facilities available.

In the report regarding this school year's ceremony, Principal Brian Deis said students looked at four locations including not only the Liberty Ranch campus, but also Galt High School and the California Correctional Officer training facility on Twin Cities Road.

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Liberty Ranch 2013 graduation venue has been picked