Holmdel grads will toss caps at BCC next year PNC Bank Arts Center raised rate for high school graduations BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer HOLMDEL - Following a nine-year run of graduation ceremonies at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel High School is heading into its last go-round at the facility, as it has already signed on to have its 2008 intermediate and high school graduations at Brookdale Community College. In the winter, the Board of Education was surprised to learn that it would have to pay the full amount of costs, about $17,000, in order to rent the arts center amphitheater in Holmdel. Since 1999, the venue has been taking on the cost of parking, cleanup, catering and security, among other expenses, for the township's graduations. In February, arts center General Manager John Panero said that the district was using the facility at a charity rate of about $4,500. He said at the time that the arts center was going to charge the district the full rate due for business purposes. "As far as choosing Brookdale for the future, it really was a matter of people sharing their experiences and it sounded like a lot of people had positive things to say about the college," Schools Superintendent Barbara Duncan said. Originally, the district wanted to try and find a cheaper alternative, but many area venues were already booked or didn't have enough space available to host the number of people who would want to witness the ceremonies. "Thankfully, due to donations from parents, we were able to have graduation at PNC this year, but that's it," Duncan said. "I really can't speak as to what went on with the center increasing the price and then letting us know so late in the school year." While Duncan didn't know the cost of doing next year's graduation at Brookdale, located in the Lincroft section of Middletown, she did say it will "be considerably less than what we're paying for PNC." Panero and Duncan both confirmed in February that this year's activities would cost around $17,000, nearly quadruple the amount of the charity rate that the district had paid in previous years.