UPDATE: Corbin Superintendent Dave Cox announced Thursday that graduation will be 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 22.
Cox said the date and time are the best choice to ensure that all of the graduation senior can be present along with family and friends who are traveling from out of town.
The issue of when to hold graduation was initially brought up at the Corbin Board of Education meeting last Monday.
Cox explained to the board members that while classes will end on May 20, several spring sports including baseball, softball and track and field continue.
“The baseball and softball district tournaments are set for May 18, so they won’t be a problem unless we rained out for several days,” Cox said.
Of more concern is track and field that may see up to seven Corbin High School seniors compete in the state finals May 21.
“I hate to make a student make that choice,” said Corbin Board of Education Chair Kim Croley, noting one at least one previous occasion, inclement weather delayed the track competition and five seniors were unable to compete in order to attend graduation.
“I felt really, really bad for those boys,” she said.
Cox said since graduation has been moved to The Arena, it allows the graduates to have extended family attend. Since many of those people are coming from out of town and/or out of state, holding graduation on Friday night is not an option.
“For them to get off work at 5 p.m. and get here in time for graduation at 7 p.m. is impossible,” Cox said.
Cox added that officials don’t want to wait to hold graduation until the following weekend because it leaves the seniors waiting an entire week with nothing happening.
“Some people take off on vacation right after school gets out,” Cox noted.
