Manatee County Schools Have Canceled Prom, This Year
This past Friday (3/12/21) Manatee County Schools announced that high schools in Manatee were not going to hold prom at all.
All because of safety guidelines.
Sarasota County Schools announced the week before, that prom will be held, but with major safety precautions, including mandatory masks, seating charts, social distancing guidelines and no dancing. .
The Sarasota County School District sent the following guidance to principals for prom:
·* No dancing (please consider the layout of the venue and seating arrangements).
- Games permitted with social distancing guidelines in place.
- Social distancing will be adhered to and masks will be worn. Students would be grouped in pods and a seating chart developed so that in the event a student is positive the entire group in attendance would not have to be quarantined.
- Schools can choose the venue, dress, format and additional safety precautions such as temp checks, etc.
- Only seniors from the individual school may attend.
Graduations
In terms of graduation. Manatee County Schools are hopeful about possibly expanding graduation, which will all be outside, the first week of June.
Right now. in Manatee County, High School graduates are limited to two tickets each, but with more than two months to go, Manatee school district leaders are hopeful they may be able to increase that amount…. if COVID-19 circumstances allow.
LECOM Park, the spring training stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has room for social distancing and will host the following ceremonies:
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.
Sarasota County school leaders are working on outdoor graduation plans as well, but have not finalized the dates, times and sites.
Manatee County Schools website: www.ManateeSchools.net
Sarasota County Schools website: www.SarasotaCountySchools.net