School Board Approves Graduation at RCHS Football Field

May 22, 2020

Evensville, TN --  After uncertainity for a couple of months, the Rhea County school board made the call this week to go forth with graduation on May 29, 2020, with 7 pm start time at Rhea County High School football/soccer field.

Several things will not be the norm this year with limitation on attendance and distancing due to covid-19.  Family and Friends will be sitting on both visitor and home sides of the field.  Students will be facing the stage at the east end of the field.  The statge will be near the east end zone.  No band will be there to play the processional and recessional.    Students will enter the field rom the north and south gates on the east side of the stadium(parking lot side).  

Students will be seated six feet aprat facing the mountains.  Students will be seated 6 feet apart with rows 6 feet apart.  Students were allowed to submit a list of tickets needed for their family and friends.  Tickets were limited to between 2800 to 3400 or so, which is one third capacity of the stadium.

Tickets will be required to attend graduation.  People who want to stand by the fence will be asked by police to please sit in the stands.  Ceremony will be shown on two jumbotrons, facing home and visitor stands.  The ceremony will be live streamed on youtube at RHCS Graduation 2020.

People with compromising health conditions or the elderly are encouraged to watch the ceremony on live stream at home.  Students will be given the diploma cover and diploma as they cross the stage.  Once the ceremony is over, the graduates will be led out of the the stadium before the public in the stands is dismissed.

The Rhea County Department of Education published a letter that speaks to the graduaiton conditions.

"Rhea County Schools encourages all members of the school community and visitors to our campus to practice safe social distancing, exercise proper personal hygiene and wear appropriate personal protective equipment."  

"However, please be advised that anyone choosing to voluntarily enter campus does so at risk and acknowledges that Rhea County Schools cannot guarantee a virus free campus or warrrant the protection of any visitors to campus from the coronavirus."