Horry County Schools narrows options for in-person high school graduation ceremonies
Horry County Schools is moving closer toward making a final decision on how it will celebrate the Class of 2020, but a few options are still being considered.
The district school board met virtually Monday to discuss graduation options with the district’s high school principals, and board members supported narrowing the options to holding ceremonies at either football fields or the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
The board is expected to make a final decision during next Monday’s virtual meeting, May 11, after board members have a chance to talk to principals in their district. Most HCS graduation ceremonies are typically held at the beginning of June.
Vann Pennell, principal of St. James High School, spoke on behalf of the principals, detailing their efforts, including multiple virtual meetings each day, to explore every possibility before narrowing down the choices to 10 types of ceremonies.
Those 10 options included: traditional, postponement, indoors with social distancing, outdoors with social distancing, a ceremony with no guest attendees, a drive-in ceremony, drive-up ceremony, smaller groupings of students, individual celebrations, and a virtual ceremony.
Pennell emphasized that the driving force for the team of principals during their discussions was prioritizing the safety and well-being of students, staff and guests. None of the options, except virtual, would allow for more than two guests per student.
The principals didn’t say whether they had determined a preference, though Carolina Forest High School Principal Gaye Driggers read a letter from the school’s senior class president asking for an individual ceremony that would allow seniors to share an intimate moment of celebration with their family, while live-streaming the ceremony online.
Board member Russell Freeman expressed concern for the length of time an individual ceremony would take.
Most board members said they’d support either an outdoors ceremony at a football stadium or indoors, specifically at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, since it is large enough to allow for social distancing.
Board member Sherrie Todd said she spoke with the owners of the convention center and was told they would offer to host all the high schools’ ceremonies for $11,000 total.
Board member Janice Morreale noted that most other South Carolina school districts that have already announced decisions are having graduation ceremonies in football stadiums.
HCS Board Chairman Ken Richardson said he spoke with state health and education officials, and they’re giving school districts some leeway, but they won’t tolerate any hand-shaking or hugging.
Numerous board members stated support for each high school administration being allowed to make its own decision, as each school has different needs and traditions.
The district has about 3,000 seniors at 10 high schools, according to a list sent to The Sun News by HCS spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier, but those schools range from 88 seniors at Green Sea Floyds High School up to 514 at Carolina Forest High School.
Pennell said they want to ensure whatever option is chosen works for every single graduating student.
HCS Superintendent Rick Maxey had originally announced virtual ceremonies after the governor ordered public schools closed the rest of the school year, but the district quickly changed course after widespread push back from parents and students.
Richardson told The Sun News he received more than 500 emails and phone calls the day after Maxey’s announcement from parents and students upset about the virtual graduation plan.
South Carolina schools have been closed since March 16 due to coronavirus with HCS and other districts quickly transitioning to an eLearning curriculum. Remote learning is expected to continue remotely until the end of the the school year, which is June 3 for HCS, though no new assignments will be given after May 15.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 8:27 PM.
