Extreme social distancing: Texas school district sets graduation at 181,000-seat venue
While other school districts in the Fort Worth, Texas, area are playing it safe during this COVID-19 pandemic and hosting high school graduations virtually to abide by social distancing standards, Denton County is taking it in a different — yet cautious — direction.
And that direction is “left.”
That’s right, the graduation ceremonies will be held at Texas Motor Speedway, which hosts NASCAR, IndyCar, and other races in Fort Worth and has a seating capacity of 181,655.
To avoid having to cancel the ceremonies or host them virtually, district officials were looking at different ways to have the special event.
“This was the only option for which Denton County officials could guarantee their approval,” Lewisville ISD said on Friday in a news release. “It was made clear to us that our alternate graduation plans may be canceled or only allowed to proceed with little or no audience present, depending on health guidelines. We decided not to take the risk, and to go with the sure option.”
All Denton County school districts are involved: Aubrey ISD; Argyle ISD; Denton ISD; Krum ISD; Lake Dallas ISD; Lewisville ISD; Pilot Point ISD; Ponder ISD; Little Elm ISD; Northwest ISD; Ponder ISD; Sanger ISD and Westlake Academy, says The Cross Timbers Gazette.
“We were glad to be able to provide some ideas to our area superintendents on how in-person graduation ceremonies can continue,” said Denton County Judge Andy Eads, according to The Cross Timbers Gazette. “We know this is an important rite of passage for our Denton County seniors and their families.”
As reported by DFW CBS, the ceremonies will be broadcast on Texas Motor Speedway’s video board, which is 12 stories and 218 feet wide, so they can be viewed by families and friends of the graduates from their vehicles in the infield of the race track.
On May 1, the state of Texas reopened as Gov. Greg Abbott rolled back some “stay-at-home” restrictions.
According to the AP, Texas “counties with fewer than five cases of COVID-19 can reopen businesses at 50% capacity,” while others can open to 25% capacity.
As of Friday, there are over 28,000 cases of coronavirus reported in the state, and 782 fatalities, according to Texas Health and Human Services.
Officials told DWF CBS that the diploma presentations will be “hands-free” to abide by social distancing guidelines.
“A high school graduation ceremony is such an important achievement and lifelong memory for students as well as their families and friends,” said Eddie Gossage, president and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway. “We are honored by the opportunity to support each and every Denton County high school graduate as best we can in these difficult times.”
Texas is not the only one using a NASCAR venue to host high school graduations. According to ClickOrlando.com, the famous Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, will host graduation ceremonies for high school seniors in Flagler County.
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Extreme social distancing: Texas school district sets graduation at 181,000-seat venue."