To:  Brentwood Borough Council

From:  Brentwood Borough School District/Brentwood High School

Subject:  Proposal for Socially Distant Graduation/Commencement Ceremony

Background:  The Brentwood Borough School District was ordered by Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to cease face-to-face education beginning on March 16, 2020.  Our last day of face-to-face instruction was on March 13, 2020.  Our seniors have suffered the most as a result of the school closings due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted the nation, state, and the Brentwood community.  Our seniors would have had National Honor Society induction, community service serving Drop the Puck on Cancer, Senior Prom, Senior Awards Night, Brentwood Borough School District Board of School Directors Academic Dinner, Brentwood Band Banquet, and the Brentwood Athletic Boosters All Sports Banquet, all of which were lost as face-to-face gatherings due to state restrictions from the COVID-19 crisis.  Furthermore, our seniors as well as underclassmen have lost the spring musical and all spring sports.  We have been able to plan “virtual” events to replace most of the above-mentioned activities.  However, as we consider the Brentwood Class of 2020, we did not believe that a “virtual” graduation ceremony did justice to celebrate the achievements of our students. 

Commencement/graduation is the premier event for our seniors, and we are attempting in some way to salvage this ceremony in honor of the Brentwood High School Class of 2020.  We want this event to be a face-to-face event with safety and social distancing measures in place.  We have submitted a permit for Brentwood Stadium on July 10, 2020. 

 Proposal:  Outdoor Commencement Exercises at Brentwood High School

Date:  July 10, 2020

Time:  6:45 PM -9:00 PM (When diploma distribution has been completed.)

Duration:  Approximately 2 1/2 Hours

Purpose/Goal:  Provide a unique and memorable graduation ceremony for the Brentwood High School Class of 2020 who have had their senior year interrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources:  Police, Crossing Guards, or whatever you think we need based on previous events you have held at the borough level.

Will Brownsville Road need to be closed to all traffic?  PAT Buses rerouted?  No.  All student vehicles would be organized in Brentwood Park by school district staff.   The vehicles will be staged in the parking lot area and released one at a time.  The seniors would stop to receive their diploma at the stage which will be set up along the walkway that is between the Community Room and Brentwood Middle/High School.  The senior would receive his/her diploma, take a formal picture, and exit Brentwood Park on Park Drive at the intersection of Park Drive, Hillson Avenue, and Brownsville Road .  We would ask that a Brentwood Borough Police Officer be placed at this intersection to direct traffic.  We do not want to have a backup on Park Drive.  The students will exit the park following the presentation of their diploma.

Covid-19 Compliance:  Open air/outdoor event with social distancing measures in place.  We will communicate with our seniors and families any information that you would want included.  These practices are already in place at many businesses and facilities as far as vehicle pick-up and social distancing procedures.  We would replicate the same safety procedures that are in place at retail stores.

Other Details:  The Brentwood High School Class of 2020 has 90 seniors.  Not all seniors will wish to participate in the event, but the event will be open to all graduating seniors.  The premise of this proposal is to provide a special and memorable experience for our seniors.