Despite rain in the forecast, separate graduation ceremonies for John Tyler High School and Robert E. Lee High School seniors still are scheduled at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, but Tyler ISD has contingency plans in the event of inclement weather.
Robert E. Lee High School expects to award 526 diplomas, and John Tyler High School will award 380, according to Tyler ISD officials.
John Tyler's graduation is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, and Robert E. Lee's graduation is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, both outdoors at the stadium.
However, with rain forecast through Saturday, Tyler ISD officials have formulated contingency plans in the event of rain. As of late Thursday, the National Weather Service was predicting a 60 percent chance of rain with thunderstorms likely through Saturday.
In the event of inclement weather Friday, John Tyler's ceremony will be rescheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the stadium. If it is raining at 10 a.m. Saturday, the ceremony will be moved to 2 p.m. at the stadium. If it is still raining at 2 p.m. Saturday, John Tyler's ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the stadium, prior to the Robert E. Lee ceremony set for 7:30 p.m.
"In the event that John Tyler and/or Robert E. Lee graduations are cancelled due to inclement weather on Friday and Saturday, efforts will be made to hold the ceremonies at Rose Stadium on Sunday," according to a statement released by Tyler ISD's communications department.
If only one graduation ceremony is required on Sunday, it will be at 2 p.m., Mrs. Parnell said. If both graduation ceremonies are required on Sunday, John Tyler's graduation will be at 2 p.m. and Robert E. Lee's will be at 6 p.m.
If inclement weather continues through Sunday, the ceremonies will be moved to the Tyler Junior College Wagstaff Gymnasium. The district would reach a decision on moving the ceremonies indoors by 8 a.m. Sunday.
if either of the graduations are moved to Wagstaff, spokesperson Dawn Parnell said admittance to the gym would be by ticket only.
During the ceremoies, Tyler ISD board President Andy Bergfeld will make welcome remarks, and members of the board of trustees will award diplomas at both commencement ceremonies.
John Tyler Principal Dr. Kenneth Gay will give opening remarks for the JT commencement, followed by the processional.
Student Council Executive President Kaleigh Hackett will give the invocation. Makyia Caraway, student council executive vice president, will lead the pledge to the flag and a group called the John Tyler Angelic Voices will sing the National Anthem.
Speakers will be John Tyler Valedictorian Braylon Lamonte Jones and Salutatorian Ashtyn Markel Beal.
Robert E. Lee Principal Gary Brown will make welcoming remarks opening Lee's commencement, followed by the processional.
Senior Class Officer Mckaela Mirano will give the invocation. Executive Treasurer Claire Stratton will lead the pledge to the U.S. flag, and Executive President William Shelton will lead the pledge to the Texas flag.
The singing group Good Vibrations will present the National Anthem.
Speakers will be Lee Valedictorian Alyssa Ashley Graham and Salutatorian Allan Robert Evans.
Both graduations will be aired live on TISD-TV Suddenlink Channel 19 and the district website, tylerisd.org. DVD copies of the ceremonies will be available for purchase through TISD-TV. DVD order forms are located on the website tylerllisde.org/graduation.
Twitter: @Betty_TMT
If you go
John Tyler High School graduation, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Robert E. Lee High School graduation, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Both at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium
Robert E. Lee Senior Walk
9:30 a.m. Friday from Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium to field behind East Texas State Fair buildings.