Seniors from both Lawrence High School and Free State High School will be receiving their diplomas on May 24 at Memorial Stadium on the Kansas University campus, school board members decided Monday night.

The board had multiple options to choose from, including the stadium at Haskell Indian Nations University and a large warehouse at the East Hills Business Park.

“I do believe that Memorial would be everybody’s first choice,” said school board member Linda Robinson.

It’s also the cheapest choice. Memorial Stadium will cost the district about $1,800 to use. Haskell Stadium would have been $5,000. While the warehouse would have been free to use, other costs would have arisen, including providing shuttles, traffic control and seating.

“Frankly the cost involved has (us) a little bit antsy about moving to the business location,” said member John Mitchell.

In case of inclement weather, the graduations would move to each high school’s gymnasium and students would be issued tickets for family members.

“We’re not going to broker these tickets,” said Superintendent Randy Weseman. “We give each family the number of tickets and that’s the role the high school plays.”

LHS seniors will get five tickets each. Free State graduates will get four apiece.

Overflow crowds will be accommodated with a live feed of the ceremony in the auditoriums and cafeterias of each school. The ceremonies will also be broadcast on Sunflower Broadband Channel 26.

But with the construction of new athletic facilities at both schools expected to be done by next year’s commencement, the use of the gyms as backup will become the norm.

“I think we are headed to being more self-sufficient in future years using our fields, and that will probably require us to use our backup facilities as well,” Mitchell said.

Lawrence High graduation will begin at 1 p.m., while Free State seniors will get their diplomas starting at 4 p.m. May 24.