Holmdel H.S. ceremony may still be at arts center BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer HOLMDEL - After calling the inflated price of holding high school graduation ceremonies at PNC Bank Arts Center "very shocking" just two weeks ago, the township school district may book the venue anyway. Superintendent of Schools Barbara Duncan said that a committee of parents, students, administrators and community members has been formed to handle fundraising in an effort to collect the necessary money to conduct middle and high school graduation ceremonies at the venue in June, a tradition since 1999. In the past, according to PNC Bank Arts Center General Manager John Panero, the district only paid a $4,500 fee for using the facility to have a rehearsal on a day prior to graduation, and all costs related to the day of the graduation had been covered by the venue. He said there's no way that the facility could allow this practice to continue due to economics. Now, according to Panero and Duncan, the arts center is looking for approximately $17,000, nearly quadruple the previous amount. Still, Duncan said she wants to go with the Arts Center, at least for this year. "We really are set on PNC at this point," Duncan said. "We want to do it there this year. It's only right being that our seniors were certainly expecting it. Our Board of Education says that they will do what they can to help out with making this a reality." Holmdel High School Principal Art Albrizio said that he has confirmed that Wednesday, June 20, is open for graduation ceremonies. Albrizio also said that there are a few minor things to get through, but otherwise, the chances look good for holding graduation at the arts center. "We looked at other options, but in the end, it looks like things are going to be OK and that things will be worked out, and we're all happy about that," Albrizio said. "The bottom line was that we wanted PNC." Even though the venue has significantly raised its asking price, the district and arts center have recently opened up the lines of communication, according to Township Administrator Christopher Schultz. "At least for now there is some sort of dialogue taking place," Schultz said. "We're certainly going to be supportive of the Board of Education in regard to this matter." Schultz said that the district only found out about the rate hike by calling the arts center to book the June graduation ceremonies. "Since 1999 when the district first started using the arts center, there were never any issues, but it's unfortunate that all of a sudden it has to come down to money like this," Schultz said.