Graduation date changed for Decatur High School
DECATUR — When the covid-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools across the nation in March, many senior high school events were canceled, including the most important one for many, graduation. Many schools came up with very inventive ways to give the Class of 2020 its moment in the spotlight. Now the Decatur High School Class of 2020 will be able to hold its graduation together.
Originally, Steve Watkins and the Decatur School Board obtained approval through the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) and the Arkansas Public Health Department to hold the Class of 2020 graduation on June 30 at Peterson Gym. The plan at the time was to have individual graduation ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 9 p.m.
Each graduate was allowed to bring only five family members. This forced the graduates to choose who would get to attend and who would have to watch the video at a later date. With 15 days left to the June 30 date, Watkins was informed by the ADE that Governor Hutchinson, in an effort to get Arkansas back on track, reduced some of the restrictions which would allow a few more people to gather in small size venues.
During the June 15 school board meeting, Watkins brought three plans for the Class of 2020 graduation, the first of which was to keep the June 30 individual graduation plan. The second was to hold the ceremony on the football field at Bulldog Stadium. This plan would give the class a chance to graduate together but would still limit the number of guests to no more than 10, five more than the June 30 plan.
The third plan was to hold the graduation at Decatur Middle School and limit the guests to five. The last two plans would have the graduation ceremony scheduled for July 10 at 9 a.m.
The school board discussed all options for the ceremony. However, one board member suggested letting the students decide the date and plan. Watkins contacted the class sponsors and officers to find a way to reach out to the 35 members and see what they wanted.
After review of the Decatur Middle School plan, the venue was changed to Peterson Gym. The class voted to hold its graduation as close to the original as possible, at Peterson Gym at 9 a.m. July 11. This plan is subject to approval by the ADE and health department.
The new Class of 2020 graduation plan, which was submitted to the state by Watkins June 17, is as follows:
Peterson Gym’s maximum capacity is 350 people. The state will only allow 66% capacity during the ceremony, which is 231 total people. Each graduate will be allowed to bring seven guests to the ceremony. Each graduate will submit the names of his or her guests and is required to submit a prescreening questionnaire to the school nurse by July 3.
To allow the graduates to have more guests, the 35 member class will be seated on the stage, still maintaining the six-foot social distancing and 12-feet separation from guests.
All graduates, guests and school staff are required to wear masks and gloves at all times while on the high school campus and during the ceremony.
Decatur police officers and a school employee will be in the parking lot to monitor outside areas for safety-protocol compliance.
Each graduating group will have a school liaison assigned to them during the time the group is on campus.
“Thirty-five separate parking areas consisting of four parking spaces will be designated and one area for each graduate and guest will be assigned. Graduates and guests will arrive and park at designated parking areas. A school representative will meet the graduates and guests at the designated parking area. The representative will review the requirements with each group and do a temperature screen for each member of the group. Upon successful completion of the screen, the grad and (his or her) guests will be escorted to their designated seating area inside the gym. Following the ceremony, each group will be escorted to their vehicles” (traditional graduation plan submission form).
This plan is as close to the original graduation ceremony as possible. However, the rose presentation and the class video were withdrawn from the ceremony because of time and social distancing.
Pending approval from the State of Arkansas, the 2020 graduation ceremony will take place on Saturday, July 11, at 9 a.m., in Peterson Gym in Decatur. A complete set of rules for the ceremony is posted on the school’s website at decatursd.com. More information may be obtained by calling the high school office at 479752-3983.