A school district in Ontario County is eyeing the possibility of an in-person graduation ceremony for high school seniors.

“We have everything on the table, I think our first set of plans that we have sent to the department of health for consideration, have us using our football field,” said Dr. Christopher Brown, Marcus Whitman Central School District Superintendent.

If that plan is approved, the Marcus Whitman graduating seniors would be spaced at least six feet apart on the football field, with only three school officials on stage, and teachers at least six feet apart.

Dr. Brown said, “we’ll be using our PA system and we will have a live-stream at the same time, and for parents, we’ll have to limit the number of tickets that might be available, and we’ll have to stagger when parents are able to come up to see their child actually graduate.”

One Marcus Whitman student graduating in a few weeks is excited about the potential for an in-person graduation.

“It’ll be really nice to have an in-person graduation because I just want that type of accomplishment feeling, to walk across the stage with like all my friends being and my family behind me supporting me,” said Kayla Ferrell, a Marcus Whitman High School graduating senior.

So far, teachers and district officials have dropped off signs celebrating seniors in the district. If an in-person graduation is not approved by the health department and state officials, the district says its Plan B is to have a virtual graduation.

Ferrell added, “I mean I don’t, I wouldn’t want it to be that way, but if that’s the only way we’re going to be able to get our diplomas and have a graduation, then I guess that’s what we have to do.”

As for other students facing uncertainly over a graduation ceremony, Ferrell had this to say, “just hang in there, because we’re all going to get through it one way or another, and we’re going to move on with our lives, like this isn’t the end of it, if anything it’s the beginning.”

The Marcus Whitman Central School District is still planning to have graduation on June 26, and is waiting for guidance from the health department and the state to determine if it will be in-person or virtual.