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TYRONE -- With the end of the school year approaching, the Tyrone Area School District board members and administrators are considering two venues for this year's commencement ceremonies.
Graduation is set for Thursday, June 3, and board members said Tuesday that Gray Field and the high school campus parking lot are being considered as possible sites.
"With the situation we're in, we're obviously looking at an outdoor venue," Dean of Students Lucas Rhoades said. "We're looking at what each site gives us to see which one is the best."
Last year, the district used the high school parking lot for commencement ceremonies, and Rhoades said positive feedback was received from the public.
If the high school parking lot is used, chairs and sound equipment would need to be rented, but families will be able to be spaced out in their own groups.
Gray Field would require spectators to be spaced out in the bleachers, and both sides of the stadium would need to be used.
Rhoades said if Gray Field is used, spectators on the visitor's side of the stadium would have the graduates' backs facing them, and a glare from the sun could create a "less than ideal" viewing experience.
"The sun would probably be shining on the visitor bleachers for the entire ceremony," Rhoades said.
Rhoades said the high school parking lot provides more parking spaces, and the ceremony could be a more intimate experience.
The closest spectators would be to the stage at Gray Field is 150 feet, and the farthest visitors would sit at the high school parking lot is 180 feet.
"Visibility would certainly be a lot better at the high school," Rhoades said.
The board did not take action on choosing a venue.
While both sites are outdoors and allow more guests than an indoor venue, Superintendent Leslie Estep said social distancing, masks and capacity limits will be enforced.
"To say we're going to open it up to unlimited attendance, I think, just isn't an option," Estep said. "It's something some people think we can do, but it's really not something we can do right now."
Rhoades said that regardless of which site is chosen, students will receive six to eight tickets per student.
About 135 students are expected to graduate, and the district anticipates another parade throughout Tyrone Borough after the ceremony, Rhoades said.
A rain date is set for Friday, June 4.