New Hanover County Schools release safety guidelines for drive-in graduations

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Despite public outcry and a petition, New Hanover County Schools are moving forward with drive-in graduation plans at Cape Fear Community College.

NHCS Safety Director Dave Spencer says they wanted to make sure the students had an in-person ceremony while remaining safe.

“We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to honor our graduates and make sure they get the special time that they’ve earned,” Spencer said. “We’ve got to provide for the safety of our students, for everybody in attendance at this, as well as those that are going to be impacted later. Once they leave this ceremony and they go back into their community and back into their homes.”

A question many parents have asked, how will families who do not own cars participate in a drive-in graduation?

Spencer says the principals quickly said they would handle those situations.

“Just like every other graduation, they’ll work to make sure they do everything they can to provide just as special an opportunity for all of our students,” he said.

And students who have special needs, like wheelchair accessibility.

“During a regular graduation some accommodations are made as far as placement of students and so that’s going to take place out in this scenario just as well and just as easily,” Spencer said.

Spencer says all cars with graduates inside will be in the main parking lot, but large vehicles like lifted trucks and big vans will be sent to the perimeter of the lot.

“It wouldn’t be fair to space them in front of someone else, but they will be parked in the main area but just off to the side,” he said.

Spencer says he believes many students are glad to be having a ceremony.

“They’re going to have a celebration,” he said. “We want to celebrate their accomplishments and all that they’ve worked through for all these years. And give them the opportunity to walk across the stage and say, ‘look we did it!'”

New Hanover Regional Medical Center officials weighed in on the situation as well.

“NHCS leadership and the graduation task forces that recommended the current graduation plan should be commended for their thoroughness,” Chief Clinical Officer Dr. West Paul said. “It really shows a clear understanding of what we face, AND balances desires to honor students WHILE preventing harm.”  

“Regardless of whether state guidance supported in-person graduation events, it would not be the right decision for New Hanover County Schools to hold in-person graduation ceremonies at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Chief Physician Executive Dr. Philip Brown said. “COVID-19 continues to be present in our state and in the Cape Fear region. As a result of recent Memorial Day crowds, hospital algorithms project that cases will continue to rise. It would not be safe for New Hanover County Schools to hold graduations in person at this time.”

The full safety measures are outlined in the following statement.

Increased public health and safety measures are being put in place for New Hanover County Schools drive-in graduation ceremonies during the week of June 15-19, 2020. Ceremonies will be held at Cape Fear Community College North Campus, 4500 Blue Clay Rd., Castle Hayne, NC 28429.

“NHCS leadership and the graduation task forces that recommended the current graduation plan should be commended for their thoroughness,” says Dr. West Paul, Chief Clinical Officer, New Hanover Regional Medical Center. “It really shows a clear understanding of what we face, AND balances desires to honor students WHILE preventing harm.”

“Regardless of whether state guidance supported in-person graduation events, it would not be the right decision for New Hanover County Schools to hold in-person graduation ceremonies at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr. Philip Brown, Chief Physician Executive at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. “COVID-19 continues to be present in our state and in the Cape Fear region. As a result of recent Memorial Day crowds, hospital algorithms project that cases will continue to rise. It would not be safe for New Hanover County Schools to hold graduations in person at this time.”

To comply with state and public health guidelines, all attendees are asked to remain in their vehicle at all times. Vehicles may be left running to provide air conditioning and vehicle assistance services will be on site if needed.

Students are asked to follow law enforcement direction in exiting their vehicles to approach the stage. They should utilize automatic hand sanitizing stations available at stage entry and exit ramps, wear masks, and practice social distancing by maintaining six foot distancing when outside their vehicles. Masks will be provided at the main entrance for students who don’t have their own mask.

NHCS staff on stage handing out diploma covers and diplomas will be wearing protective gloves and masks at all times. There will be no hand shakes when receiving diplomas and students will pose for their portrait as they exit the stage and pick up their diploma so they may remove their mask for the photo.

High risk individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the option to view a live stream of high school graduation ceremonies online at NHCS-TV YOUTUBE. Visit WWW.NHCS.NET for more information, a graduation FAQ and links to individual high school websites.