SALISBURY POST

In an attempt to keep students safe, the Rowan-Salisbury school superintendent has moved two graduations to Keppel Auditorium.

‘‘In an attempt to provide the safest possible environment for our students during this important event, we have concluded that all of this year’s graduation ceremonies will be held at a single site,’’ said Dr. Joe McCann.

‘‘Since our other three high schools were already scheduled to conduct their ceremonies at Keppel Auditorium, it was a logical choice for the two remaining schools.’’

South and East Rowan high schools had planned to have the ceremonies at their respective football stadiums.

The change is a direct result of the escalating worries about safety in the Rowan-Salisbury and surrounding school systems.

McCann said there have been no direct threats of violence made against any of the graduations.

‘‘This is just a proactive program,’’ he said.

But since two students killed 12 of their classmates and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., threats of school violence have escalated everywhere and there has been another shooting at a Canadian high school.

‘‘Graduations were identified as being one of those very significant events ... at which we had less control in regard to safety issues than other events,’’ McCann said. ‘‘We truly want to continue this tradition, but we want to do it in a manner that provides students the safest environment possible.’’

In conferring with high school principals, law enforcement officials and other superintendents, all agreed that securing everyone’s safety would be easier at a single site.

Referring to Littleton and other school shootings, McCann said, ‘‘Those incidents happen, and they can happen anywhere.’’

McCann said he regrets any inconvenience this will cause to friends and families, but safety remains his main concern.

The decision has been received well by the community, McCann said, ‘‘but that doesn’t mean that everybody is pleased with the decision.’’

At South, which has a smaller graduating class than usual, each student will receive six tickets for the graduation ceremony, ‘‘which is much less than our seniors are accustomed to having,’’ said Dr. Alan King, South principal. ‘‘But I’ve been real pleased. Our seniors have tried to make adjustments and tried to be supportive of the change.’’

Friends and family also need to be understanding, King said. With only six tickets, students are facing tough choices about who will be at their graduation.

King supports McCann’s decision.

‘‘I’m never going to second-guess anyone if the safety of our kids is at the heart of the decision,’’ he said. ‘‘You have to respect the superintendent for being concerned for our students. It’s just up to us to make it go the best it possibly can.’’

McCann said local law enforcement officials will decide how tight to make security and whether to add walk-through metal detectors and dogs.

‘‘It will be a graduation with an expressed attempt to provide it in as normal a situation as we can provide,’’ McCann said. ‘‘But we intend to have appropriate security in place. Whatever the level and however that is defined will be determined in consulting with law enforcement agencies.’’ EST