Chester County High School Graduation to be held at Eagle Stadium

The Chester County Board of Education approved for the Class of 2020 Graduation Commencement to be moved from Loyd Auditorium at Freed-Hardeman University to Eagle Stadium at 7:30 p.m. during their meeting on June 11.
The gates will open at 6:30 p.m.
Having the ceremony outside lifts the capacity restrictions in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as long as everyone still does social distancing.
This change was brought about after the delegation of senior parents Marla Davidson and Suzanne McCarver along with senior Josie Shebesh and others as they presented why they feel that the class should be able to have their graduation at Eagle Stadium. The main concern was, with the ticket limitation, graduates and their families would have a hard time telling other relatives or friends that they could not attend the graduation ceremony.
Shebesh expressed how it would have been hard for her and other graduates that have two sets of parents.
“Growing up, everything I’ve done’s been separated. Two birthdays. Two Christmas’s. Two Thanksgivings. Two everything,” Shebesh said. “It sounds good, but it meant never having everyone I love at the same gathering at the same time. Not once have I been able to experience all of my family gathered around to celebrate my achievements. My graduation would have been the first time everyone I cared about could come together for one special occasion.”
The parents of the class made a poll on their Facebook page that showed a favor of moving it of 69 to 40. Though approved by the board of majority in favor of the plan, board member Mark Griffin said he had to say no and be a voice for the parents who would rather it be at FHU but were not aware of the poll that was made.
Another parent present pointed out that the reason she voted in favor of the location being at FHU was to keep the date. If she was aware it could be at the stadium on the same date as scheduled, she would have voted in favor of the stadium location.
If weather does not allow the possibility of having the commencement outside, then the contingency plan is to move it back to Loyd Auditorium with students being limited to six tickets for their families.
If the capacity restriction is lifted by Governor Lee before the event, the commencement will be held at Loyd Auditorium without the ticket limitation.
“Whatever the current executive decision is, we will follow,” said Director of Schools, Troy Kilzer II.
The next CC Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020.