The honeybee infestation at Catawba College’s Kepple Auditorium is still causing problems.

Five of Rowan-Salisbury’s eight high schools have moved their graduation ceremonies to their own campuses – the other three already planned to hold graduation at an alternative site.

This same bee infestation forced Catawba College to move and divide its May 16 graduation to the Omwake Dearborn Chapel, also on campus.

Director of Secondary Education Eisa Cox said district administrators wanted to give families and schools as much advance notice of the change as possible. Rather than wait until the last minute to see if the infestation could be controlled, they opted to go ahead and change their plans now.

“This is really not a lot of advance notice,” she said.

North Rowan, South Rowan, East Rowan and Salisbury high schools will hold their graduation ceremonies in their football stadiums at 8 a.m. June 13. Henderson Independent High School will hold its graduation ceremony in its auditorium. The ceremony will also be at 8 a.m.

Plans for West Rowan’s graduation will not change. Per usual, the ceremony was already scheduled to be held at the school’s football stadium at 8 a.m. on June 13.

Carson High School’s plans will also remain unaltered. The school’s graduation is scheduled for June 13 10 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium.

Rowan County Early College’s graduation was held Friday night at Carson High School.

Cox said it was their goal to keep the change as consistent as possible from school to school. They chose the 8 a.m. start time to avoid the heat of the day and any possible inclement weather.

The schools that hold their graduations at their football stadiums will be able to host more people than they would at Kepple Auditorium.

“Typically, it doesn’t thunderstorm at 8 o’clock in the morning,” she said.

At least one cabinet level administrator will attend each graduation ceremony, including Cox, Superintendent Dr. Lynn Moody, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Julie Morrow, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Anthony Vann, Director of Digital Innovation Andrew Smith and Executive Director for Administration & Legal Services April Kuhn.

“It’ll be the first time we’ve done this in a number of years,” said Public Information Officer Rita Foil. “This may be something they want to continue to do in the future.”

South Rowan High School Principal Kelly Withers said her students were ecstatic to learn graduation would be held on campus.

“They literally shouted,” she said. “They were very excited to get to graduate on their own campus.”

Withers said preparations for graduation have already begun.

“We’re working on it right now,” she said, adding that school employees were setting up the sound system at the football stadium to see if they could use their own equipment.

“The basic needs are a stage and chairs,” she said.

The school is looking into a variety of options, including borrowing or renting the chairs and stage.

Although there will be a lot of work involved to get ready for graduation, Withers said she’s excited for the change.