The doors will open at 4 p.m. in advance of the planned 6 p.m. program billed as a Town Hall.

Beddingfield Principal Glenn Reaves was given about 200 tickets for the Obama event. Those tickets were distributed to the school's entire staff, including teachers, bus drivers and cafeteria workers.

The remaining tickets were distributed to students to reward them for their academic performance.

The tickets were distributed this morning because students were out of school for a teacher workday on Friday. Reaves said some students were not aware of the event until they returned to school today.

Reaves said a majority of the students offered tickets have accepted them.

"Obviously, it's exciting," Reaves said.

Reaves described this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet a potential future president.

Reaves said two representatives from Obama's campaign walked in Thursday and asked him if the school would be interested in hosting the event. Reaves said he talked with the people about what would be involved and he did his best to try to sell Beddingfield as a good location. The representatives left then returned to the school Thursday afternoon. Reaves said they signed the contract then.

Reaves said he was asked not to say anything until the Obama campaign sent out a press release Friday after lunch.

Beddingfield's gymnasium has a seating capacity of about 1,500 people. Ticket holders must pass through metal detectors to gain entry. Entry into the gymnasium will be through the main commons area. Doors will open about two hours before the program starts. The school is on a regular schedule today.

Reaves said the gymnasium has been transformed into a venue for a town hall meeting. Electronic and audio equipment has been moved into the gymnasium. Reaves said Secret Service agents have been on campus since Friday morning familiarizing themselves with the school's layout and making arrangements for Obama's movements throughout the building.

Reaves said there was activity at the school all weekend but the work really picked up Sunday around lunch.

The school's auditorium has been set up to serve as an overflow area for people not able to get a seat inside the gymnasium.

The band room will be used for press accommodations.

Reaves has his ROTC students serving as parking attendants. Parking will be very limited. Reaves encouraged people to carpool.

"It's going to be packed," he said. "We're going to move our buses off campus and do as much as we can to free up as much space as we can."

creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822