Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Mullins Provides Update About Graduation Ceremonies

BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020 GRADUATION HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – As you may have seen from the announcement last week, schools will be holding outdoor graduation ceremonies from July 18 through the 25.

Your individual schools will be reaching out to you this week with specific event details. Our goal is to provide our graduates with an in-person ceremony where they can be surrounded by classmates and family and be individually recognized while receiving their diploma.

Doing so, however, will require a commitment on all our parts to the protocols identified.

Please familiarize yourself with this information and the noted requirements. Should there be a change of course or new directives from state and local government and/or health authorities, our schools are prepared to consider alternative options.

For the protection of our students and employees, BPS staff will be working with local law enforcement to assist with crowd control and compliance.

Individuals found to be in violation of these protocols will be asked to leave. I have no doubt that our graduates and guests will conduct themselves in a manner that is safe, responsible, courteous, and respectful of one another.

I want to thank you for your patience as we deliberated options for providing our senior class the in-person graduation they were hoping for, and for your understanding and flexibility as we execute on these plans.

BREVARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2020 GRADUATION HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS

The goal of the 2020 graduation ceremony is to provide graduates with an in-person ceremony where they can be surrounded by classmates and family and be individually recognized on stage.

Doing so, however, will require a commitment on all attendees to adhere to the protocols identified. Ceremonies will be condensed due to health safety limitations and in consideration of heat.

GRADUATION CEREMONY PROTOCOLS

■ Each graduate will receive two tickets for the ceremony – ALL guests, including children and babies require a ticket. Live streaming will be provided where feasible for those unable to attend. Details will be provided by each school in advance.
■ All graduates, staff and guests MUST wear a face covering for the duration of the event – students and attendees should bring their own mask.
■ Per Department of Health and State of Florida re-opening guidelines, graduates and guests who are sick, have a fever, traveled internationally or from the New York Tri-State Area (Connecticut, New Jersey and New York) in the past 14 days, or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 must stay home for the safety and well-being of those attending.
■ Any high-risk individuals or those who are susceptible to the heat should consider staying home.
■ Visitors must be mindful of social distancing guidelines and stay 6 feet apart from other household groups when entering the stadium and when selecting seats in the bleachers.
■ Students will check-in, have their temperature taken by school staff and report directly to their designated line, while maintaining social distancing. The maximum acceptable temperature will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit per CDC guidelines. Students registering a temperature over 100 degrees will be checked two additional times before a decision on attendance is determined.
■ Graduates will be seated 6 feet apart from each other and remain in their seats until called to the stage.
■ Graduates will not shake hands on stage and there will be no contact permitted before, during or after the event.
■ Each graduating senior will accept a diploma cover after crossing the stage and be officially photographed; graduates may remove their mask for the photo.
■ When the ceremony ends, all graduates and visitors will immediately exit the stadium as directed while continuing to socially distance themselves from one another.
■ Guests will NOT be permitted on the field before, during or after the ceremony.

BPS staff in collaboration with local law enforcement will be on hand to ensure strict enforcement of protocols for the health, safety, and well-being of all attendees.

Additional information:

BPS will continue to monitor updates from state and local government and health authorities. Schools are prepared to consider alternative graduation ceremonies should there be any action or decisions that impact the current plan.

Weather plan: School principals will do the best they can to adapt in the event of rain or inclement weather, but alternate options are limited as there will be no indoor activities due to capacity and safety concerns. Please refer to your individual school graduation plan for additional school-specific details.

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