Fort Smith nails down graduation plan

FORT SMITH — After multiple delays, the School District has settled on a time to hold graduation for its high school students, as well as a plan to carry them out.

The School Board unanimously approved Thursday plans for graduation for Northside and Southside high schools at the stadiums of each school. The Northside ceremony will start at 8 a.m. July 16 while Southside’s will begin at 8 a.m. July 17.

If it is raining at 8 a.m. on either day, the ceremonies will be postponed until 8 p.m. the same day, although the location will remain the same. Should it be raining at 8 p.m., the ceremonies will be held at the Fort Smith Convention Center.

Although no faculty will attend the ceremonies, graduates will be allowed to bring two guests each. The seating of guests will be assigned by lottery. The plan states, in keeping with state guidelines, seating will be arranged to allow for 6 feet between household groups in attendance.

Similarly, graduates will be seated on the fields 6 feet apart and more than 12 feet from the audience. Face coverings will be required for all except for children younger than 10.

However, in the event weather requires moving to the convention center, there will not be space available for guests. In any case, a livestream will be available for guests to watch the ceremonies.

The district announced Monday it would again postpone ceremonies in light of coronavirus restrictions. The ceremony for Northside was to be place July 6 while Southside’s would have been July 7.

Doug Brubaker, district superintendent, said state authorities announced April 25 “traditional high school graduation would not be available until July 1.” Plans would have to be submitted to both the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Health for approval.

Since then, Brubaker said high school principals and staff members in the district have surveyed students, measured bleachers, calculated seating capacities of different venues in the face of state-required social distancing restrictions, gathered stakeholder input and created several options for graduation ceremonies that appeared to meet state requirements.

Ginni McDonald, the district’s director of secondary education, provided the board with an overview on the options available. Brubaker said the options were approved by the Elementary and Secondary Education division and the health department.

Talicia Richardson, School Board vice-president, said while she believed none of the options were ideal, she felt the safety of the students and attendees is most important.

“It is not going to look the same,” Richardson said.

Board member Dalton Person asked if the district has the capacity to have masks available for students and guests. Brubaker said yes.