By Rupert Howell

South Panola High School’s graduation will be held in Batesville for the first time since the 1980s, following action of the district school board  last Tuesday night when trustees decided to hold commencement exercises at the Civic Center.

Recent commencement services have been held at Tad Smith Coliseum at the University of Mississippi which is spacious enough to seat all who wanted to come.

The time and day has also changed from a Sunday afternoon exercise to a Saturday morning exercise presently scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14.

School superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer advised board members that details including sound system and seating arrangements would be worked out and estimated that graduates would have approximately 10 tickets for family and friends to attend.

Board President Lygunnah Bean had mentioned on several occasions that commencement exercises, traditionally held on the third Sunday in May,  had conflicted with special church services in the past.

The district had also been criticized for holding the event out-of-town since the Civic Center was completed.

Graduation was formerly held at the high school auditorium, now Batesville Junior High Auditorium, but graduates could only invite a couple of guests due to limited capacity. Ceremonies were also held at Northwest for several years.

Attempts to hold graduation in the football stadium were always clouded with the possibility of bad weather which delivered another set of problems.

Details for Project Graduation, an all-night fun activity sponsored by the school and local donors, have yet to be scheduled.