Kzoo Central preps for the President

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - As President Barack Obama's visit to deliver the commencement address for Kalamazoo Central High School nears, Linda Martin is hoping her Grand Rapids company will land the job to provide the staging, lighting and audio for the event.

"We're going to offer them a turn-key package," Martin told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday. Her firm, Levitation, is one of a handful vying for the work at Western Michigan University's arena. The company was responsible for similar work at the president's University of Michigan commencement address. in May, Martin said.

The White House is expected to pick the winning bid Thursday, according to WMU facilities vice president Peter Strazdas, and the administration will be covering the cost of the work.

"You're looking at competitive bids in action right now," Strazdas said, as he walked 24 Hour News 8 around the arena to look at the preparations for the speech.

Workers will be at the arena "almost around the clock" until Monday morning, he said. On Wednesday, preparation included touching-up paint, covering advertisements and meetings focused on security, transportation, logistics and layout. Officials do not discuss security specifics for safety reasons.

"The graduates come around, come across the stage, shake the president's hand, receive the diploma," and come back down a set of steps, Strazdas explained.

Kalamazoo Central graduates will get the floor seats facing the president. Parents and guests of the graduates will sit on one side of the arena. On the other, some 9th-through-11th-grade students from Central and graduates of the other Kalamazoo public high schools.

All of those guests need tickets and Wednesday at Kalamazoo Public Schools headquarters, counting them was one of the pre-commencement tasks.

Stay with 24 Hour News 8 and woodtv.com for complete coverage of President Obama's visit on Monday.