A Lehighton Area School District board member took aim Monday night at the district’s plan for high school graduation, which calls for students to individually receive their diplomas with limited family members in attendance throughout the day on June 5.

Director David Bradley said the school’s plan “seems to be in conflict with what the state Department of Health has arranged for groups and counties in the red stage, though Carbon County is slated to move to the yellow stage regarding COVID-19 procedures on Friday.

“Nobody discussed this with the board,” Bradley said. “It was just decided and announced.”

Earlier in the meeting, LAHS Principal Sue Howland said a ceremony is scheduled for June 5, with each of Lehighton’s 158 graduates having received a different time slot during the day when they will receive their diploma.

“If the weather cooperates, the plan is for the student to walk to the middle of the turf field and get their diploma,” Howland said. “Up to four family members will be able to join them. The student will exit the field by the pole barn area.”

No more than 10 people would be present during the diploma presentation for each student, Howland said. Should there be rain forecast, the presentations would take place inside the high school next to the spirit bell.

“We have taken all the precautions to mitigate contact,” Howland said. “Everyone will be wearing masks.”

Bradley questioned the administration on what guidance the state had given it regarding graduation plans. Howland said that based on communication from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, schools in any counties remaining in the red zone will have to hold virtual graduation ceremonies.

“Our plans were developed understanding Carbon County would be moving out of the red phase,” she added.

Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said he is a part of a group that meets on a weekly basis with emergency management officials.

“They did not give us any type of opinion on what type of graduation ceremony to hold,” Cleaver said.

At 6 p.m., a motorcade parade will take place throughout the Lehighton community with 20 school buses accompanied by local fire and police departments.

“Creating a parade during a pandemic sounds very counterintuitive,” Bradley said during Monday’s meeting.

There will be eight students, Howland said, staggered throughout each bus at an appropriate distance apart.

“All of our decisions were made following Centers for Disease Control guidelines and recommendations from the Pennsylvania Department of Education,” she added.

A Strawbridge photographer will be present to capture each student receiving his or her diploma. Those pictures will be used to create a virtual ceremony that will show all students receiving their diplomas as well as various commencement speakers. The final version will be shared at a later date with all families and the community via the Lehighton Area High School website.

“We’re looking forward to a nice sunny day on June 5,” Board President Larry Stern said.