Update

High school seniors in Nampa now able to graduate at the Idaho Center

By Jennifer Auh

CREATED Mar. 7, 2013

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  • Jennifer Auh reports on high school seniors in Nampa petitioning to graduate at the Idaho Center. Just a week later, they got their wish. Video by IdahoOnYourSide.com

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High school seniors in Nampa will now be able to graduate at the Idaho Center in May. It’s an update to a story, we brought to you earlier this week.

Last week, the Nampa School District decided to switch the graduation ceremonies, from the Idaho Center to the schools' football fields.

The change would have affected Columbia, Nampa and Skyview High School students. District leaders told us it would save about $12,000 for the financially strapped district.

However, students were not happy about the idea. They were worried that all of their guests wouldn't be able to get a seat at their graduation, so they gathered about 500 signatures to petition against holding their graduations on school campuses.

“It was a bit frustrating, wondering why we weren't graduating at the Idaho Center, so we really wanted to make sure the community was behind us, and we had the right steps in place," said Katie Wheaton, Columbia High School Senior.

Their hard work paid off. Now, the ceremonies at the Idaho Center are back on for all three schools, thanks to donations from folks in the community.

"We don't graduate high school every year. This is our last big thing before college, going off to our lives and everything. I want and all other students want it to be exactly how they imagined it," said Mallory Haynes, Columbia High School Senior.

The district leaders said they received contributions from ‘Above and Beyond Health’ and ‘Absolute Home Health of Canyon County,’ ‘Nampa High's Booster Club’ and Teacher Jim Kusterer.

"We had some folks come forward and offer support to the schools, and we met with Idaho Center. They’ve been working with us to make sure cost of the center is covered, so no school district funds are needed for the rental," said Allison Westfall, Nampa School District Spokeswoman.

The donations totaled almost $10,000, and the rest of the money needed will come from Idaho Center's parking fees at the graduation ceremonies. District leaders said the date and time of the graduations should stay the same.