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Despite plans to move forward with a parade-style graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 in Jessamine County, an online petition has been started to ask the Board of Education to consider postponing graduation until an in-person ceremony can be observed.

As of Tuesday evening, 527 signatures have been added to the petition on Change.org. The petition was started three weeks ago by senior Kathleen Eller to postpone West Jessamine High School’s graduation.

“The class of 2020, already we have endured so much, most of all being a global pandemic that is out of our hands. Throughout this however; we have seen our senior year being washed away,” the petition states. “No prom, senior trip, decision day events, project graduation, graduation itself, spring athletic events, and most colleges are making our freshmen orientations virtual. We want to take this opportunity make sure our Senior Graduation is still special.”

The petition notes that options like a drive-in graduation or a virtual ceremony prevents valuable friends and family members from participating in the ceremony.

“If we postponed it then we would be able to hold it as soon as possible whether that be in June, December or 2021,” Eller wrote. “This would allow the class of 2020 to still receive the high school graduation we had anticipated, even though the final semester of our high school career was taken away. This petition will be a way for our voices to be heard by administration in our county to ensure that what happens is what we really want.”

The petition can be viewed at https://www.change.org/p/jessamine-county-schools-postpone-wjhs-senior-graduation.