Graduation set for Morgan County Schools

Graduation set for Morgan County Schools

Hsv mr waay 31 news new tonight.

Morgan county schools is preparing for a unique graduation ceremony, one that includes social distancing, no congratulatory handshakes, and all high school commencements done on the same day.

Waay31's steven dilsizian joins us live outside the morgan county board of education after sitting down with the superintendent to get more details on graduation in the time of coronavirus.

Superintendent bill hopkins jr tells me for the first time, all 5 high schools will graduate on the same night....may 18th graduations will be inside the football stadiums, and capacity must be at no more than 50 percent.

Hopkins says the governors adjusted health order sped up the planning process.

Take sot: bill hopkins jr. - morgan county schools superintendent "we had made some sort of plan preparing for this, and we were kind of holding out for the 15th to see if she would loosen things up, so then we she came and loosened things up on friday, it just fast tracked everything" with groups of 10 or more now allowed to congregate as long as precautions are in place, that allowed the school system to get to work on a graduation plan.

It will be one like the system never has seen before take sot: bill hopkins jr. - morgan county schools superintendent "what we've typically done is three graduations in one night and two graduations the next night.

The administrators didn't feel we could do that based on weather, based on the way things could be, because we aren't able to move inside " hopkins says all five high schools in the district will graduate on the same night.

Bleachers will have markers on them to keep families distanced.... sanitizing stations will be available throughout the stadiums... and students will avoid shaking hands when their name is called.

Take sot: bill hopkins jr. - morgan county schools superintendent "we're going to have a practice, prior to the graduation for the graduates because we will not be shaking hands, we will make sure we deliver the diplomas to them and allow an opportunity for pictures those type of things" for some high schools... the number of graduation tickets had to be reduced as well.

Falkville, danville, and west morgan high school granted students 8 tickets each... but at priceville and brewer, the two largest high schools, each student could only get 6 tickets.

Hopkins says it's what must be done to have a ceremony, that many have desperately wanted.

Take sot: bill hopkins jr. - morgan county schools superintendent "lots and lots of emails, lots and lots of phone calls, saying mr. hopkins please, we have to have a ceremony, and we said all along that we were committed to some sort of ceremony recognizing the seniors" .

The ceremonies will start at 7 pm on may 18th.

People that may be sick or high- risk are asked to stay at home.

Live in morgan co -- sd -- waay31 news.

Graduation ceremonies also are set for morgan county's 2 city school systems. decatur city schools commencement will be may 21 and 22.

Hartselle city schools will graduate on may 27.

You can find graduation information for all north alabama schools