West Mifflin Area School District is set to begin renovation of its high school stadium in May. But safety concerns are the more important factor prompting officials to hold the school’s June 6 graduation ceremony inside the auditorium, according to district Superintendent Mark Hoover.

“While we know many of you will be disappointed in the location choice, I believe that it is a matter of safety, security and necessity to move the ceremony indoors,” Hoover said in a memo to parents issued Friday.

He referred to a brawl among students at the 2018 graduation ceremony where one of them allegedly brandished a gun.

At the time, school officials told news partner WPXI that the fight was among former students.

Hoover said that incident was tied “to a much larger dispute” in two neighboring districts that he said has involved violence and “has been going on for the past several years.”

“Many of our students also have ties to these outside groups as well, which I believe, creates an environment for unwanted and uninvited outside visitors with ill intentions to attend,” he said.

Hoover acknowledged the move indoors means fewer family members of graduating seniors will be able to attend the event.

He said the plan is to have overflow seating in the middle school auditorium, where a live video feed of the ceremony will be presented.

The same overflow plan was put in place last year, according to WPXI.

Only family members with tickets will be admitted to this year’s ceremony, Hoover said, adding that school district police will close the campus once the event begins and will expel anyone loitering on the grounds.

Hoover said, moving forward, he will continue to recommend that the district hold its commencement ceremonies indoors.

“Safety will always be my top priority,” he concluded.

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