“If they are going to have a race (in Bristol) in June, we ought to be able to have graduation,” Board Chairman Keith Ervin told his colleagues.
School board members set June 19-20 and July 24-25 as tentative dates for ceremonies likely to be held in the football stadiums at David Crockett and Daniel Boone high schools.
The motion stated specific dates and the number of guests to be allowed would be determined later by the school board based on what happens with the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the coming weeks.
“I think we should leave our options open, and not shut the door to a traditional graduation,” Board member Chad Fleenor said.
In the meantime, virtual graduation ceremonies will still be held at the schools, which will abide by social distancing guidelines and limit students to groups under 10 inside the gymnasiums. Students will be presented with a DVD of the ceremonies, and both high schools will hold parades to honor graduating seniors.
Board members said the virtual ceremonies alone are not enough to honor graduates.
“I’m glad we’ve put something in place for our seniors,” Board member Annette Buchanan said. “They’ve worked hard, and they deserve to walk across the stage in front of their parents.”
Before they began a lengthy debate on the issue, Director of Schools William Flanary read a letter to board members from a parent of a David Crockett student stating it would be “heartbreaking” not to see her child receive a diploma in a traditional ceremony.
Flanary said no other school system in the region has decided to hold a traditional graduation ceremony. He said most are observing social distancing protocols.
“They all are doing things differently,” Flanary said. “There is really no pattern.”
Flanary said he consulted with Dr. David Kirschke, the director of the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Department, about when COVID-19 crowd restrictions might be relaxed.
The director said Kirschke is uncertain if large groups will be allowed by July, and noted researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville believe the state could see a surge of COVID-19 cases in late June.
“Even if we set it in July, that might be a gamble,” Board member Todd Ganger said. “But I’d like to see us do something.”
In other business, the board voted to accept a $243,972 bid from Barnard Roofing Co. to replace the gymnasium roof at Daniel Boone High School. Board members approved the bid after a motion to add “liquidated damages” to the contract failed.
The board postponed a decision on the bid last week when several members said they were not pleased with the timeliness of the work that the low bidder has demonstrated in replacing the roof at Jonesborough Elementary School.
Barnard’s bid is under the amount that has been allocated for replacing the gym roof. County commissioners voted in February to replace the Daniel Boone gym roof at a cost not to exceed $400,000.
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County school board plans for 'traditional' graduation ceremony - Johnson City Press (subscription)
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