Petition: Remove UMBC and DAR as graduation locations for 2025

[Anonymous]

I’ve still seen many arguments about the MCPS graduations being held at either DAR or UMBC (mostly UMBC), and I think that the best option that most of the high schools can have the graduation is at the MC campuses since it is an easier distance to travel there and there is still more capacity.

I have a kid who is graduating next year and I assume that his graduation will be at DAR (considering Whitman’s graduation was at DAR this year.), and he is dreaded about DAR based on the experiences that some of the previous seniors have gone through.

[Anonymous]

My kid's graduation was at UMBC, and it proved to be a great venue: sufficiently large for every graduate to get 6 tickets, free and ample parking, great air-conditioning... really no issues at all.

If they can hold ceremonies closer to home and get equally great venues at Montgomery College, that would be nice too. But is there enough space?

[Anonymous]

OP, did you start a petition or you want someone else to do it for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's graduation was at UMBC, and it proved to be a great venue: sufficiently large for every graduate to get 6 tickets, free and ample parking, great air-conditioning... really no issues at all.

If they can hold ceremonies closer to home and get equally great venues at Montgomery College, that would be nice too. But is there enough space?

+1

OP, UMBC is not as bad as most people think. Sure, the distance and traffic from my daughter’s graduation at UMBC (Northwest) was hideous, and we were already exhausted having to go early around 7:00 when the ceremony started at 9:00 AM. UMBC is very fresh and most schools are opting out on DAR to move to UMBC instead

[Anonymous]

I would love to see the change where almost all the MCPS schools graduate at the MC campuses instead.

[Anonymous]

I’ve had three graduates and UMBC was the best location. MCPS had it down in regards to getting everyone in and out in an easy fashion.

The football field was hot, cramped and you only get four tickets.

[Anonymous]

DAR is horrible for parking. MC campus is not a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

What makes you think MC is even an option? Just slow your roll and let school administrators take care of graduation they way they see fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to see the change where almost all the MCPS schools graduate at the MC campuses instead.

That would take over a week. There are 26 HS in total. Graduation ceremonies last over 2 hours, from people waiting in line to finish, then you need time for people to take pictures, leave, and staff to setup and clean. There would be at most 3 graduations per day.

[Anonymous]

They should hold the graduation on the football field at school—at dusk/evening when it’s cooler outside. Plan a rain date. It’s not hard.

UMBC has horrible acoustics.

UMCP would be better.

[Anonymous]

What about Strathmore?

MoCo invested tons in tax credits. Too bad our leaders at the time didn’t think about providing for graduation use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve still seen many arguments about the MCPS graduations being held at either DAR or UMBC (mostly UMBC), and I think that the best option that most of the high schools can have the graduation is at the MC campuses since it is an easier distance to travel there and there is still more capacity.

I have a kid who is graduating next year and I assume that his graduation will be at DAR (considering Whitman’s graduation was at DAR this year.), and he is dreaded about DAR based on the experiences that some of the previous seniors have gone through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Strathmore?

MoCo invested tons in tax credits. Too bad our leaders at the time didn’t think about providing for graduation use.

Strathmore is too small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to see the change where almost all the MCPS schools graduate at the MC campuses instead.

That would take over a week. There are 26 HS in total. Graduation ceremonies last over 2 hours, from people waiting in line to finish, then you need time for people to take pictures, leave, and staff to setup and clean. There would be at most 3 graduations per day.

It already takes MCPS a couple weeks to have all the graduation ceremonies. This year they spanned May 29 to June 12.

[Anonymous]

DAR is perfectly fine. My kid’s graduation was there.