(Corning) Southwest Valley Schools Superintendent Chris Fenster announced today the 45-seniors of the 2020 graduating class would receive their diplomas during an outside ceremony at the football stadium on May 16, at 1:00 p.m.
School Officials spent countless hours devising a plan to practice social distancing to ensure everyone’s safety. Chris Fenster sought approval from Adams and Taylor County Public Health, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Emergency Management, and the Iowa Department of Public Health.
Only the graduate’s parents, step-parents, or guardians are allowed to attend. Medical personnel stationed at the gate will take temperatures and check for COVID-19 symptoms from all attendees. Once cleared the parents directed to seats spaced at least 10-feet apart. Graduate seating will be spaced 10-feet apart and eight feet between rows.
The graduates will park at the east entrance and directed to the staging area prior to the ceremony. Parents will park in the south lot and enter through the west gate. Following the service, graduates will march off, get into their cars, and leave the parking lot. Parents will do the same. The ceremony will also be live-streamed for those unable to attend.
“We want to do something special for our seniors, while taking every precaution possible,” said Fenster. “Facemasks with Southwest Valley decals on them will be provided for the graduates. We encourage parents or guardians to bring facemasks; however, we will have masks for those that need them.”
Chris Fenster is confident if everyone follows these directions, it will be a beautiful ceremony for the graduates. May 17 is the rain date.
Adams County is one of a handful of Iowa counties without a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 and surrounded by counties with just one positive example, and most of those cases have recovered.
The Senior Awards Night will be live-streamed at 6:30 p.m. on May 13.
