Pine Bluff High School graduation will move to the Kenneth L. Johnson HPER Complex at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff this spring.
Pine Bluff School District Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree announced the move during Monday night’s board meeting and also addressed some concerns community members had about a change in tradition. For years the Pine Bluff Convention Center hosted the PBHS graduation, but Barbaree said the move to the HPER Complex, which includes H.O. Clemmons Arena, helps the district provide “a memorable and safe environment” for the ceremony, scheduled this year for May 16. The time is not yet determined.
“This decision was not made lightly, but it is essential to ensure that both the celebratory atmosphere and the safety of all attendees are upheld,” Barbaree said, acknowledging the change in location would be an adjustment for some in the community. Another purpose to moving it away from the Convention Center is so that PBHS can host future graduations in its on-campus, 2,000-seat arena, set to open along with the new campus in 2026.
“We recognize the importance of this milestone in the lives of our graduates and their families, and we are confident that the new location will offer a fitting atmosphere for this significant event,” Barbaree said. “In addition, the venue change allows us to better manage the crowd, ensuring that everyone can participate in the ceremony without compromising security.”
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Board member Patrick Lockett commented about the move, adding graduation at the Convention Center has been a staple in the community for a long time.
“I’ve gotten calls about this,” he said. “Don’t think I’m against UAPB because I love UAPB, but what happened for us to dismiss the Convention Center? Whatever it is, I think that we may not have been getting the right package, if we didn’t have the right sound system, if we didn’t have security, because I found this out and did some research and talked to some people. … The constituents I’ve talked to are sad, very sad.”
Barbaree responded: “It wasn’t an easy decision. It was a decision that, as the superintendent of the school district, I feel responsible for every person who attends graduation. The last two years I’ve been the superintendent, I feel like I let our parents and community down for the way that it was handled in the past and just the lack of being able to manage the people that are attending our ceremony. We do know for a fact some people attend the ceremony not in positive intent to be there for the students, and that only goes back to the two experiences I’ve had, which does not go back as far as the constituents.”
It was not immediately clear when PBHS graduation was first held at the Convention Center, which opened in 1976.
“We had security. We had sheriff’s department (and) police department. We had our own security, all those, but the venue and the setup of the venue, the direction of traffic and where people can sit and different things like that was just not as student-friendly and ceremonial-friendly as it could be,” Barbaree said.
A message seeking comment was left for Convention Center executive director Barbara Dunn, who was hired in that position last August.
UAPB is providing space for the graduation at no cost, Barbaree added. “We are thankful for the partnership with our local university,’ she said.
A graduation committee made up of seniors, their parents, teachers, administrators and district personnel will meet to finalize details to be shared with students and families, Barbaree said. The committee will discuss how each of the graduates’ guests will be accounted for, with a sign-up and ticket system a possibility, and how and where parents will receive their graduates after the ceremony.
“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we make these adjustments,” Barbaree said. “We are committed to providing a meaningful and enjoyable experience for all involved, and we look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our graduates.”