Duval Schools graduation season marks return to normalcy — and air conditioning

Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union
·4 min read
Spectators brought their own shade as they watched the graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduates of the Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology from the stands of TIAA Bank Field. More ceremonies will be taking place there following delays during the pandemic.
Spectators brought their own shade as they watched the graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduates of the Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology from the stands of TIAA Bank Field. More ceremonies will be taking place there following delays during the pandemic.

For Duval County Public Schools, this graduation season marks a return to the 'Before Pandemic' times, with indoor ceremonies and no mask requirements. For attendees, it means there's something else to celebrate as well: air conditioning.

Following two years of modified commencement ceremonies across Jacksonville to accommodate COVID-19 safety recommendations, Duval Schools officials announced this season will return to traditional circumstances. Several private schools in the area are also following suit.

"I'm sure board members will be pleased to know ceremonies are taking place indoors," Superintendent Diana Greene said at a recent school board meeting.

Until now, ceremonies were taking place outside — in the thick of Florida's sweltering summer heat, on respective school football fields — in lieu of inside indoor auditoriums, including the VyStar arena, Times-Union Performing Arts Center and the University of North Florida arena.

Students sat in chairs placed on their football stadiums' grassy fields, water bottles in tow. Attendees brought fans, wore hats and used umbrellas to hide from the sun — particularly those who participated in daytime ceremonies.

Spectators brought their own shade as they watched the graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduates of the Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology from the stands of TIAA Bank Field Friday morning. Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology held their coronavirus delayed graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 Friday, July 17, 2020 in the stands of TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Parents and friends cheered on the graduates from the upper seating levels of the East side of the stadium while the masked and socially distanced graduates were seated below as they waited to approach the field level stage to pick up their diplomas. There were 260 graduates in the class of 2020 but many were not in attendance, having already moved on with their lives.

The return to the indoor venues will cost the district about $300,000, with the bulk of costs going toward contracting the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for several larger commencement ceremonies, including Riverside and Fletcher high schools.

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Between graduation ceremonies in 2018 through 2020, ceremonies cost the district an average of $261,091. When ceremonies took place on school football fields, pricetags decreased significantly, costing under $200,000.

"We are thrilled about returning indoors for graduations this year," School Board Chairman Darryl Willie said. "We cherish the opportunity to have students and families celebrate the culmination of years of academic success."

Though COVID-19 precautions are less stringent compared to years past, Willie cautions attendees to continue to be mindful. Specific restrictions — including bag size limits — will vary depending on the venue. That guidance will be provided to attendees along with their tickets.

Here's the graduation ceremony schedule for the class of 2022:

May 19

  • Mount Herman Exceptional Student Center: on campus at 11 a.m.

  • Palm Avenue Exceptional Student Center: at Paxon School for Advanced Studies at 5 p.m.

May 20

  • Alden Road Exceptional Student Center: on campus at 6 p.m.

  • Marine Science Center: at Duncan U. Fletcher High Schoo at 5 p.m.

  • Duval Virtual Instruction Academy: at University of North Florida Arena at 6 p.m.

May 23

  • Samuel W. Wolfson High School: at University of North Florida Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Riverside High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 1 p.m.

  • William M. Raines High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 5 p.m.

  • Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts: at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts Moran Theatre at 7 p.m.

May 24

  • Andrew Jackson High School: at University of North Florida Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Terry Parker High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Duncan U. Fletcher High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 5 p.m.

  • The Bridge to Success Academy: at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts Moran Theatre at 7 p.m.

May 25

  • Stanton College Preparatory: at University of North Florida Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Edward White High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Mandarin High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 5 p.m.

  • Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology: at University of North Florida Arena at 6 p.m.

  • Douglas Anderson School of the Arts: at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts Moran Theatre at 7 p.m.

May 26

  • Jean Ribault High School: at University of North Florida Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Englewood High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Atlantic Coast High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 5 p.m.

  • Westside High School: at University of North Florida Arena at 6 p.m.

  • A. Philip Randolph Academies of Technology: at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts Moran Theatre at 7 p.m.

May 27

  • Paxon School for Advanced Studies: University of North Florida Arena at 1 p.m.

  • First Coast High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 1 p.m.

  • Sandalwood High School: at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena 5 p.m.

  • Baldwin Middle-Senior High School: at Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts Moran Theatre at 7 p.m.

Emily Bloch is a youth culture and education reporter for The Florida Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter or email her. Sign up for her newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval County Class of 2022 high school graduation ceremony schedule