Members of the Blanco High School Class of 2020 will get to hear pomp and circumstance in person, after all.
Blanco ISD announced graduations plans Sunday which includes an in-person ceremony or ceremonies, depending on what is allowed by state leaders and health department officials. The district set plans for what it hopes to be able to do, along with two contingency plans.
The school district’s hope is to hold a traditional graduation ceremony on its originally scheduled date, May 29, at Panther Stadium, though there will likely be some changes if that is the case.
“This would require some limitations on how many guests each student could invite,” the district said in its announcement. “It could also require the use of both sets of stands at the stadium along with reorienting the set-up for graduation.”
Since the situation with the coronavirus could change between now and May 29, school district officials hope that this is what they’ll be able to do, but they can’t guarantee it.
“BISD cannot verify that this will be our graduation model until we hear more from state leaders,” the announcement stated. “This is the graduation plan that we hope to be able to enjoy with our seniors.”
If Blanco ISD is unable to hold graduation under its first option, in-person ceremonies of smaller groups will be held at the stadium May 29-30. The smaller groups would be held within “recommended safety standards,” the district said.
“The graduation set-up would be on the west end of the football field so that guests could view it from the parking lot between the football stadium and the (First) Baptist Church,” the district stated. “Families and other honored guests would remain in their automobiles to watch their Panther graduate with a small group of classmates. Groups would be given arrival and departure times.”
If this is the case, recordings would be made and compiled into a video for members of the graduating class.
In case of inclement weather, the district has a third graduation ceremony option. It would be the same as the second option, though it would be held in the BHS gym. This option would allow for “a very limited guest list” for graduates due to the venue. The ceremonies would be set for May 29-30, but possibly include May 31, as well. A video would also be made to compile all of the ceremonies for members of the graduating class.
