Community Schools of Frankfort Superintendent Don DeWeese announced Monday morning that graduation at Frankfort High School will be moved from Saturday, May 23, to Saturday, August 8, at 10 a.m. in Case Arena.
“We are going to ask our school board to officially postpone our graduation from Saturday, May 23, to Saturday, August 8, at 10 a.m.,” said DeWeese. “Our hope is the governor will have changed the order that are currently working under and living under.”
The state of Indiana has been on a lockdown since mid-March and Governor Eric Holcomb officially cancelled the remainder of the school year earlier this month. Since then, students have been wrapping up their school year using E-learning.
DeWeese added this would be as close to a regular graduation as possible. However, there is a backup plan just in case.
“We want all of our kids to take part in recording a pre-recorded virtual type of graduation ceremony,” said DeWeese. “We would ask that our graduates come, and wear their cap and gown. We still have to work out all the details of social distancing and making sure everyone in safe when they come in to do this.”
DeWeese said this would be filmed by Hot Dog Television and done in the high school auditorium.
DeWeese said he believes the Board of Education will go along with the idea.
“We’ve been answering a lot of questions from the public,” said DeWeese. “Many of our parents of graduates of our graduating class were very upset with us for even entertaining the virtual graduation.”
DeWeese was asked why he chose August.
“The city of Frankfort has basically cancelled everything up through June 30,” said DeWeese. “So, we knew that wasn’t going to be a good time. We probably could have arbitrarily picked sometime in July, but we went with August 8 because we will already be in school.”
The 2020-21 school year is scheduled to start on Thursday, August 6. DeWeese added this plan would give students Friday, August 7, for the opportunity to have a final walk through at the high school.
The next school board meeting is set for Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m.