Decision on RHS graduation location coming soon as dome work continues

The Hodag Dome has been reinflated and School District of Rhinelander officials are hopeful the Rhinelander High School Class of 2025 will be able to celebrate commencement in the newly repaired facility.

“Last week, the Dome was successfully re-inflated, and the repair process continues to move forward thanks to the incredible teamwork and dedication of many,” district officials said in a press release. “In the past several days, cables on the exterior of the Dome were adjusted, and patching of exterior holes was completed. The maintenance team is now focused on patching remaining holes on the inside of the Dome and expects that work to continue through next week. Additionally, lighting repairs are underway inside the facility, with more lighting to be installed on the tennis court side of the Dome to enhance visibility and safety. While the Dome itself is progressing well, repairs to the tennis courts and track—both of which sustained damage—will need to occur at a later date but remain a high priority for completion as soon as possible.

A promising report from Arizon received on Monday morning, May 5, indicates the Dome will be ready to host Rhinelander High School's graduation ceremony on June 1. A final decision on the location of graduation will be made by the end of next week, district officials said.

Superintendent Eric Burke expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts that have brought the Dome closer to full functionality:

“We are incredibly grateful to our School District of Rhinelander maintenance team, the Arizon team, CD Smith, and the City of Rhinelander for their hard work and continued support throughout this process. The progress we’ve made is a testament to the power of collaboration and community.”

Burke also extended his gratitude to the greater Rhinelander community for its ongoing patience and encouragement:

“Thank you to our community for your support and understanding as we work through this challenge. The Hodag Dome has become such an important resource to our school district and the broader community, and we are committed to restoring it to full use as quickly and safely as possible.”

Work is also ongoing to improve the Dome’s emergency power system. The district maintenance team is actively coordinating with insurance company engineers, as well as representatives from Trane and Wolter, to enhance the reliability of backup power in the event of an outage.

The School District of Rhinelander will continue to provide updates as work progresses and will announce the final graduation venue decision by the end of next week.