Graduations Rescheduled To Early June At LECOM Park: Report

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — To follow social distancing and other safety protocols as the coronavirus pandemic continues, the School District of Manatee County will host its high school graduations at LECOM Park, the spring training home for the Pittsburgh Pirates, during the first week in June, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Though graduations for the district’s six traditional high schools were originally scheduled during the third week in May, they’ve been shifted to June 1-5, reports said. This is when the ballpark is available for the schools’ use, Mike Barber, communications director for the district, told Patch.

In a 4 to 1 vote at its Tuesday meeting, the School Board of Manatee County shifted graduations to the following dates:

• Southeast High School: June 1
• Braden River High School: June 2
• Lakewood Ranch High School: June 3
• Bayshore High School: June 4
• Palmetto High School: June 5

Manatee High School will host its graduation ceremony June 3 at Hawkins Stadium, the school’s football field, reports said.

Barber told Patch that Manatee “has a long tradition” of hosting its graduation on its football stadium on campus.

In the past, the area's high schools, except Manatee, have held their graduations at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. The schools held their ceremonies at LECOM Park for the first time last year at the end of July because of the coronavirus pandemic, Barber said.

Because of capacity limits at LECOM due to social distancing, each senior will also have a limit of two graduation guest tickets, reports said.

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This two-ticket limit will extend to Manatee, as well, because the district wants to treat all six high schools “equitably,” Barber told Patch.

Manatee students are upset by the change, especially the ticket limit, and many protested by walking out during sixth period March 3.

Student Chloe Forestier started a Change.org petition calling for the district to allow graduates to have four guest tickets. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 2,200 people had signed the petition.