JCBE Approves 2021 In-Person Graduation Schedule

In-person ceremonies to be held for 1st time since 2019

March 23, 2021 -- JCPS seniors will celebrate graduation with in-person ceremonies for the first time since 2019, under a proposal approved tonight by the Jefferson County Board of Education (JCBE).

Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio recommended graduations for the Class of 2021 be held May 27-29 at a JCPS school or facility with a controlled entrance and limited capacity. The commencement exercises will follow all current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) health and safety guidelines, including mask wearing and social distancing.

Under the approved plan:

  • Schools will hold ceremonies on their football field. Schools that do not have outside stadiums (J. Graham Brown School, Liberty High School, Phoenix School of Discovery, Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program and Jefferson County High School) will use the facility at Doss High School or Fairdale High School.
  • The graduating class for each school will be divided into groups appropriately sized to meet the current CDC/KDE guidelines and venue/stadium capacity.
  • Schools may have multiple ceremonies, depending on the number of groups of graduates in the class.  
  • Each graduate will receive an allotted number of admission tickets to distribute to family members. The total number of tickets will be based on current CDC/KDE guidelines for outside stadium bleacher-style seating.
  • June 1 is set as a rain make-up date.

Individual schools will determine if and how they recognize seniors from the Class of 2020.

In other business, the board:

  • Received a report on the district’s organizational coherence initiative. The report provided information regarding the initiative’s positive impact on the efficiency and effectiveness in serving children, cost savings, increased fairness for employees, and a summary of ongoing processes.
  • Received an update on the district’s Racial Equity Policy, and heard a presentation on recommended updates to address the current realities of racial inequities that have been magnified by COVID-19.
  • Approved gifts and donations from a variety of sources, including:
    • $5,400 in-kind donation from Louisville Public Media to Butler Traditional High School for flutes, alto saxophones, clarinet and French horn to be used by band students.
    • $15,000 in-kind donation from Family Realty Company and Friends to Foster Traditional Academy for toys, clothing, food cards, food baskets, and household supplies for 50 students and families.
    • $20,000 from GENYOUth to eight JCPS schools for COVID-19 emergency school meal delivery items.
  • Approved a memorandum of understanding with Digital Promise Global to create innovative learning environments at Central High Magnet Career Academy; Liberty High School; ESL Newcomer Academy; Seneca High School; and Academy @ Shawnee.
  • Approved a district agreement to participate as a full member of the Local Laboratories of Learning. The cohort of Laboratories of Learning will be involved in the design of a new assessment and accountability system and pilot any newly created systems.
  • Approved the JCPS Request to the Kentucky Board of Education to not administer the BRIGANCE assessment in the 2020-2021 school year.