By CHRISTINE HAINES
Plans for both graduation and the prom are back on the table in the Belle Vernon Area School District.
A number of students, parents and public officials attended Monday’s special school board meeting which only had one action issue on the agenda — the opening and awarding of bids for paving in the district. It was the discussion items — graduation and prom, but mostly graduation — that drew nearly two hours of discussion.
Although it was listed as a virtual meeting, a number of students and parents showed up outside the administration office and asked to be heard. The board agreed to allow them to enter the room a few at a time to present their case.
Senior Mackenzie Wood gave an impassioned plea to allow the Class of 2020 to graduate as one.
“I feel we should be able to graduate together,” Wood said through tears. “The students are walking. They aren’t going to be in contact with anyone.”
Wood presented a plan that would utilize the six entrances to Weir Stadium, keeping people entering each area separated so it could be considered different venues, thereby increasing the number of people allowed to be at graduation without technically violating the 250-person limit on gatherings.
Other students pointed out that Belle Vernon Area wouldn’t be the first district to hold an in-person graduation for the entire senior class. Dr. Michele Dowell, the district superintendent, said she was aware of the Bald Eagle School District holding a ceremony, but did not know how or if the district got around the current COVID-19 guidelines.
Solicitor Ira Weiss said the district needs to take into consideration potential legal consequences as well as the risk of people becoming ill. Weiss said waiver forms could be drawn up for all attendees.
“We could provide a waiver to the district that would require social distancing and masks and that the person signing the waiver hadn’t been sick in the past 14 days,” Weiss said.
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