Sarah Finnegan
Oak Mountain Graduation 2017
Oak Mountain High School celebrates its Class of 2017 witha graduation ceremony on May 25, 2017 at Bartow Arena.
In a press release sent out on Thursday, the Shelby County School District announced new plans for graduation ceremonies. This comes after Governor Kay Ivey recently amended the state’s Safer at Home order to allow for larger in-person gatherings as long as social distancing measures are in place.
All Shelby County high schools will hold graduations during the week of June 1 with in-person graduation ceremonies held at each school's football stadium. Each graduate will be issued four guest tickets.
The new graduation plan replaces previously announced drive-through ceremonies that were scheduled for the week of June 15.
“It was always our intention to offer a traditional graduation ceremony if the governor changed or lifted the health order,” said Dr. Lewis Brooks. “We are very pleased to be able to offer our graduates and families a ceremony that enables them to celebrate with their classmates, friends, and family.”
Dr. Brooks said while the health order allows the district to hold a more traditional graduation ceremony, he is reminding those attending the ceremonies to remember to practice social distancing recommendations.
“Family groups will be permitted to sit together, however, there should be a six-foot distance from the other guests seated nearby,” said Dr. Brooks. “We ask that all graduation guests respect this request for the health and safety of our community.”
Graduation ceremonies will be held on the following dates:
June 1:
- Oak Mountain High School
- Montevallo High School
- Shelby County High School
June 2:
- Chelsea High School
- Calera High School
- Helena High School
- Vincent High School
Each school will be announcing specific details regarding their graduations, including the times for their ceremonies and other logistics.
During the Shelby County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Dr. Lynn Cook-Carroll, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, said that each principal will email out information today.
"We are so thrilled we are able to honor our graduates with more traditional ceremony," Carroll said. "These principals were willing to do whatever it takes and we are happy to be able to do something more traditional."
