CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Graduation planning has been top of mind for leadership at the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, as they navigate through the unexpected COVID-19 crisis. A survey sent by the district to senior class families on April 16 received over 1,700 responses, as families seek to have some sort of graduation ceremony for their student.

The goal for feedback was to “develop a plan for graduation ceremonies in collaboration with [student families]” according to CMCSS.

After careful consideration of state and federal guidelines, the district has developed a plan for facilitating in-person graduation ceremonies.

“The district will move forward with planning smaller, in-person graduation ceremonies for each high school over the summer months. With continued guidelines limiting the size of gatherings and factoring in the capacities of our football stadiums, we will have to limit guests and make other modifications for the safety and health of graduates, guests, and employees,” CMCSS said in a letter to senior class families.

Current social distancing guidelines are limiting large scale graduation activities. Families are being asked to limit guests to two people per graduate, at most. This is subject to change based on changes to state and federal guidelines.

With the reopening of the state, and potential future stay-at-home orders at the forefront of everyone’s minds the district has pushed graduation to June, with back up dates already planned for July.

In the event of inclement weather, the graduation ceremonies will be moved inside and guests would be further limited.

“We are committed to recording these ceremonies so other family members may watch at a later date,” officials said.

The ceremonies are currently scheduled as follows, with all ceremonies occurring in the morning.

In-Person Graduation

School June July back-up date
Clarksville High 6/27 7/18
Kenwood High 6/25 7/16
Middle College 6/25 7/16
Montgomery Central High 6/25 7/16
Northeast High 6/27 7/18
Northwest High 6/27 7/18
Rossview High 6/26 7/17
West Creek High 6/26 7/17

Online Celebrations

Although the district will be moving forward with planning in-person graduation ceremonies over the summer months, officials say they recognize that not all students may be able to attend. Likewise, with the uncertainty of this unprecedented situation, inevitably COVID-19 could still affect summer graduation plans.

With this in mind, CMCSS also will move forward with online graduation celebrations in May. School and district personnel will be working over the coming weeks to create these celebration videos that will individually recognize each graduating senior. These will be streamed online during the regularly scheduled graduation dates and times in May.

The district will provide more information on how to view these celebrations in the coming weeks.

Yard Signs

Thanks to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation with support from area businesses and a partnership with Gerald Printing, the district will be able to provide Class of 2020 yard signs for each graduate. Families will receive instructions on how distribution of the yard signs.

Senior Spotlight

Families of graduates are invited to share their photos in Clarksville Now’s Senior Spotlight presented by Fortera Credit Union.