After having to cancel several major student events during the last two school years, administrators at Oak Park and River Forest High School are hoping to host its homecoming dance this fall.
During the May 13 school board meeting, administrators presented a contract with Boom Entertainment to provide DJ services for the event, with a final vote on the agreement expected to take place later this month.
In 2019, the last year the school held a homecoming dance, more than 2,300 students attended, officials said.
The contract with Boom is set to cost $36,502.30, an increase of more than $7,000 from the 2019 event.
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Activities director Susan Johnson said Boom has provided DJ services to OPRF High School for more than a decade, adding the cost increases are due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract is set to be bid out again next year.
“We’re planning on holding the same, if not better, entertainment that we always have,” Johnson said. “We’re probably expecting a little more [student attendance] this year if we end up being able to have homecoming, which we’re hoping we will. The cost increase is due to COVID. This industry was hurting a lot, but students will still be paying $20 per person admission.”
Johnson said the homecoming event usually makes a $14,000 to $15,000 profit each year, funds which student council then spends throughout the year. Even with the DJ cost increase, Johnson said the district still expects to come out ahead.
“Homecoming usually pays for itself and gains some,” Johnson said. “Student council uses that money in other areas. This year, they helped fund the trip to Great America. Some years they buy t-shirts or hold extra functions. Whatever money is brought in from students gets spent on students.”
Administrators said each counselor is also given a block of homecoming tickets to hand out to students who many not be able to afford the event.
The deal calls for the district to pay 25% of the total contract cost to Boom Entertainment once it is approved by the school board. The district could cancel the contract 60 days or more prior to the event should the homecoming dance not take place.
Should homecoming be canceled, the district could use its deposit toward another event that could take place anytime during the 2021-22 school year, officials said.
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