As the state is beginning to loosen its restrictions on gatherings, Kingfisher High School has made plans to move forward with a traditional graduation ceremony.

The district’s board of education agreed at its regular May meeting Monday night for a ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at the high school football field.

“We talked with the class officers and got some feedback. We sent a letter to senior parents and asked for feedback,” Superintendent Jason Sternberger told the board. “With what is being allowed, this will be our plan.”

The ceremony is traditionally held in the APB, but school officials felt being in a confined space wouldn’t be the best option during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still, the district must adhere to Centers for Disease Control and State Health Department recommendations, most notably on social distancing.

That means a limited amount of seating will be available for the ceremony, Sternberger said.

With about 120 students graduating this year - the largest ever at KHS - Sternberger recommended four tickets per graduating student.

The ceremony will also be live streamed for family members who cannot attend.

“We’re trying to do what’s best for the kids,” said board president Mike Copeland, noting two board members – Jim Perdue and Carly Franks – have children who are among the graduates.

“It’s just an imperfect world right now and there’s no perfect solution. But I do think this is better than a virtual graduation.”

The ceremony is possible due to the state’s Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) program, which currently has Phase 1 in effect.

Phase 2 runs from May 15-31 and then Phase 3 begins June 1. Each phase further loosens restrictions.

The question was asked if a ceremony could be held later in the summer when it’s possible that social distancing would be lifted, allowing for more people to attend the ceremony.

Sternberger noted that some KHS seniors are joining the military and wouldn’t be able to attend the ceremony if held later in the summer.

“All of our plans right now are assuming that Phase 2 is enacted,” Sternberger said. “As we’ve seen, things can change at a moment’s notice, so we will continue to monitor all of those developments.

“We’ve learned to be very flexible in this time.”