The Johnston High School Class of 2020 and their families are asking the Johnston School Board and Johnston Superintendant to reconsider their decision to eliminate the option of an outdoor commencement ceremony at the Johnston Dragon High School Football Stadium.

Currently, the administration has rescheduled the May 26th commencement ceremony at the Knapp Center to June 27th at the same location.

Based on the slow and cautious progression of loosening restrictions in allowing large group gatherings within Polk County, June 27th is an unrealistic date and the Knapp Center is too confined to house the Senior student body and immediate family in a safe manner allowing for adequate social distancing.

The request has been made several times by multiple parents to the Johnston High School administration to have the commencement ceremony at the Johnston Dragon High School Football Stadium, but it appears this has been dismissed by the Johnston School Board and Superintendent.

As parents of the 2020 Senior Class, we understand the challenges of finding a venue to host our large student body and families, however we have waited and watched our children work hard to achieve their graduation goals and believe strongly they should be allowed to celebrate this milestone in the safest environment possible during the current COVID 19 Pandemic which we strongly believe is our state-of-the-art Johnston Dragon High School Football Stadium.

As Johnston tax payers, we respectfully ask the Johnston Community School District to conduct the 2020 commencement ceremony at the Johnston Dragon High School Football Stadium where social distancing is a more appropriate and safest environment for everyone during the current circumstances.

The 2020 Senior class is the first graduating class to complete all three years in the new high school since it opened in 2017. A commencement ceremony at Johnston Dragon High School Football Stadium would also be very symbolic for our students and provide one last opportunity for the seniors and families to be together where it all started.

The majority of other school district’s within the metro will be using their school’s football stadium to conduct their 2020 commencement ceremonies and we request the same.

Thank you for your time and consideration.