Poplar Bluff High School graduated its largest class since 1980 last year, according to school officials, and this year's list of graduates looks to be even longer.
For purposes of student and public safety, PBHS Principal Mike Owen said admittance to the May 24 commencement ceremony will be ticket-based to correspond with the number of seats inside the Black River Coliseum.
"Unfortunately, and it's a great problem to have that everyone's involved with our kids, but we just don't have a venue big enough to accommodate these overwhelming crowds," Owen said.
Stemming from an earlier conversation with the city's police department, Owen said it was determined 3,300 barcoded tickets will be divided among the 367-member graduating class.
Eight tickets will be given to each graduate, which leaves extra in the instance of unexpected additions to the roster.
"For instance, we'll have kids move in who are going to graduate," Owen said. "Like today, we had a student move in who is going to graduate. If I gave nine tickets each, that was cutting it too close."
Any leftover tickets will be redistributed through a lottery system, he said. This means if a student needs more than the allotted number of tickets, they may enter the lottery.
"I really hope anyone who needs extra tickets will be able to get them through the drawing," he added.
Owen said he hopes the ticketing system will lead to a smaller and more navigable crowd. In 2017, there were so many attendees it was reported the Coliseum reached the point of standing room only. Owen added that parking and traffic control are also consistently issues.
Another benefit, he said, is that limiting the crowd size will enhance the ability of law enforcement officers to protect in a more efficient manner.
Owen made it clear that none of the more than 3,000 seats will be filled by PBHS faculty and staff, as he has arranged for their seating on the Coliseum floor.
"There will not be one member of my staff in a Coliseum seat," Owen said. "Every single ticket I have will go to a kid. Any other staff in the district will only be able to attend if they get a ticket from a graduate."
Doniphan High School began utilizing graduation tickets last year, Owen said. DHS officials told him its implementation has been successful in achieving the intended goals.
Tickets will be distributed directly to seniors in May, prior to graduation, with the lottery occurring a few days later. Owen said children age 2 and under will not be required to obtain a ticket to get into the ceremony.
Once tickets have been received, Owen said, it is at the student's discretion to whom they are given.
"If someone isn't using all eight of their tickets, it's fine to pass them along to someone else who needs them," he said.
For those who are unable to attend, the ceremony will be streamed live via Facebook and, at a later date, will appear on cable Channel 2, Owen said.
Poplar Bluff High School's 2018 Commencement will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 24 at the Black River Coliseum.
For questions regarding tickets, call PBHS at 573-785-6471.