Bryan County High School’s class of 2017 will hold its commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Savannah Civic Center. 

An overflow crowd at the 2016 graduation, held in the school’s gym, precipitated the move. The 2016 class had 112 members, one of the smaller graduating classes in recent years. The number of people who attended, though, led to a standing room only crowd.

“The main reason is because of the space and size of the 2017 class,” Bryan County Schools Superintendent Paul Brooksher said. “This year is one of their largest classes ever.”

After the 2016 commencement, it was suggested that the event could be moved to Hanner Fieldhouse on the campus of Georgia Southern University. Assistant Superintendent Trey Robertson, however, told the board of education last summer that the district could save about $6,000 by hosting it at the Savannah Civic Center.

The district already pays to have the civic center stage and sound system set up for the Richmond Hill High School graduation, including a practice session the day before commencement. Using the same facility for both high schools would mean a one-time cost.

Richmond Hill’s commencement is at 1 p.m. Saturday.

For more information about both ceremonies, please see the special graduation insert in Thursday’s Bryan County News.