Citing budget concerns, St. Francis Area Schools officials have reaffirmed their earlier decision to hold this year's graduation inside the high school gymnasium.
The school board's 4-3 vote April 8 on the graduation venue followed weeks of debate, with some pushing for commencement exercises on the football field instead.
Students in favor of an outdoor ceremony launched a petition and a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost difference, estimated at $7,000.
Commencement in St. Francis typically has been indoors in recent years, but proponents of the outdoor venue have raised concerns about seating constraints in the gym, with students limited to four tickets each.
Hannah Covington
Excelsior
County studying trail along Mill Street
Hennepin County is studying the potential design and cost of a pedestrian and bike trail along Hwy. 82, also known as Mill Street, from Holly Lane in Shorewood to 2nd Street in Excelsior.
Residents southeast of Excelsior have requested a safer way to walk or bike on that stretch of road, which does not have a sidewalk, said Dan Patterson, a county transportation planner.
"It's been a known need for a long time, 10 to 15 years, and there's a lot of demand to get into Excelsior for the destination that it is," he said.
Officials from the county and neighboring communities are seeking public input through focus groups and an online survey. An open house on the issue is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. April 30 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 680 Mill St., Excelsior.
