Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs issued the following statement about updated Knox County Schools graduation plans.

“Our meeting with Superintendent Thomas, school leadership and Commissioner Justin Biggs went very well. I feel comfortable with the direction of our discussion and with the ideas that were presented,” said Mayor Jacobs. “Under this plan, Knox County Schools can strike a balance between taking public safety precautions and ensuring that students and their families are able to celebrate their achievements together.”

He continued: “I am pleased that our 2020 graduates will be able to have something special to close their scholastic careers, even if these extenuating circumstances require it to be different than what they expected and what’s been done before. There’s a lot more involved in these ceremonies than a student getting a paper diploma and turning their tassel. Graduation is a time for students—some of whom will be the first in their families to achieve the honor—to revel in the culmination of more than a decade of work.”