The Maries County R-2 Board of Education approved alternative prom and graduation for seniors to take place on July 11 and July 19 respectively.

Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham shared information about the proposed graduation dates on April 23 with the five board members who gathered in the Belle High School (BHS) library along with two members who were attending via Zoom. The Zoom meeting was also available to the public. The date for prom will depend on the graduation date.

BHS Principal Lea Hickerson met with about 20 of the seniors of Zoom prior to the meeting to see what they wanted to do.

“Seniors said they were fine with June 28 or July 19,” Basham said. “The junior sponsors (who arrange prom decorations and facilities) said they would like you guys to pick one day in July and to say ‘that’s our day’ rather than a day in June and July.”

The junior class prom sponsors said they would like to have the event the Friday of the weekend before graduation. They agreed it would be easier to pick the later date in July.

“They want to schedule prom the weekend before graduation and want graduation to be July 19,” Basham clarified.

Board President Joey Butler II asked why they took away the June date.

“They felt like that was a strong possibility that date would be canceled because of restrictions,” Basham said.

The Belle Fair is currently scheduled from July 22-25, which could add unforeseen complications. Basham agreed July is late.

“It is going to be hotter than all get-out,” Director Tom Kinsey said.

Butler said they could still possibly do a condensed version of graduation in May. The district has already announced they would have a parade for seniors on May 10 on what should have been the graduation day.

“I talked to parents of the seniors and I said ‘nothing is called-off yet,’” Kinsey said. “Depending on what the governor says, and what the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says and what-have-ya, even if we could have it at the park all spread out —them kids deserve to walk across a stage somewhere.”

Basham said the students did ask to have the event at the park rather than in the gym because it is going to be hot. Butler said it is going to be hot everywhere.

“So if the fair is the 22-25, if we do graduation before, have we talked to the fair board? Cause they do a lot of preparations at the park right before the fair,” he said.

Dawn Hicks, the board’s vice president, said she would know more about that after the fairboard’s first meeting.

“They are thinking maybe we will end up with a condensed fair or tournament fair,” Hicks said. “It probably won’t be what it has been in the past. We are hoping to have some sort of fair, they are just not sure of the extent of it and we are not sure about the livestock part. So we are making different plans for that.”

Hicks said she doesn’t think the fair will be as big and doesn’t know that they will have the entertainment they expected.

“I won’t know more until May and we need to decide what we are going to do with graduation before then,” Hicks said.

One board member suggested having graduation at the park, but not having a lot of family present so the kids could have their graduation.

“They don’t want to do that,” Basham said. “They want their grandmother and their grandfather there.”

Butler said the seniors may not get their wish this year.

“And it is not our fault,” he said. “Why did they want us to decide this month?”

Hicks said students want to be able to send their invites for graduation to their families.

“What if we limit them to a certain number of people?” Kinsey asked.

Director Amy Kiso said she is fine with approving the later date for both events.

“As a parent of a graduate, we have already had to tell them ‘no, we are not having it in May.’ I have to agree I’d rather have just one date,” she said. “And later rather than sooner ‘cause people make arrangements to fly and travel.”

Hicks made a motion to approve July 11 for prom and July 19 for graduation.

Kinsey added, “If the governor let’s us.”

Basham added, “Pending social distancing requirements.”

Kiso added, “Pending fairboard approval.”

The board approved the measure with a 6-1 vote, with Butler against.