Manatee County School Board Approves New High School Graduation Dates, Pushing Them back into June 2021
In an effort to be more safe and allow more people to attend school district leaders suggested the ceremonies be moved from late May to early June, which were the earliest dates available at LECOM Park in downtown Bradenton
Manatee County High School Graduations are usually held at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. However, that venue would only allow 500 to 600 people based on its COVID-19 restrictions.
LECOM Park, the spring training stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has room for social distancing and two guests per graduate,
Florida also extended the window for students to take this year’s statewide assessments. By pushing back graduation, more students can take the necessary tests and meet the criteria for graduation, allowing them to walk the stage (or baseball field) in June.
In response, the school board voted 4-1, with Mary Foreman dissenting, to approve the new graduation dates on Tuesday evening:
·Southeast High School, June 1 (previously May 19).
·Braden River High School, June 2 (previously May 22).
·Lakewood Ranch High School, June 3 (previously May 20)
·Bayshore High School, June 4 (previously May 22).
·Palmetto High School, June 5 (previously May 21).
Manatee High School is now scheduled to hold its ceremony on June 3 at Hawkins Stadium, the campus football field and the traditional venue for MHS graduations. The school’s ceremony was previously scheduled for May 22.