The Harford County Board of Education at its meeting Monday night released next year's tentative graduation schedule, which calls for three venues to hold the majority of the ceremonies.

The schedule, presented by David Volrath, the Executive Director of High School Performance, does not reference specific calendar days, but assigns schools to days one through four. Three venues were chosen, based on their ability to accommodate graduations, for the next school year, according to Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld. They are Aberdeen, Bel Air and Edgewood high schools. Some schools will able to use their "home site," if available.

In this situation, Volrath, who is retiring June 30, said they give the "host schools" the first opportunity to graduate out of courtesy for sharing their facilities so that when other schools come in, the host schools have less of a student population to minimize crowding. The plan is expected to be voted on at the school board's Aug. 8 meeting.

For day one, at 6 p.m., Aberdeen, Bel Air and Edgewood will all hold graduations at their respective schools. On day two at 6 p.m., North Harford High will graduate at Aberdeen, C. Milton Wright at Bel Air and Joppatowne High at its building. Day three at 6 p.m. features Fallston at Bel Air's facility, Patterson Mill at Edgewood and Havre de Grace at home.

Day four has all schools at their own sites, including the Alternative Education Program at the Center for Educational Opportunity in Aberdeen at 10 a.m., John Archer School at 1:30 p.m. and Harford Technical High School at 5:30 p.m.

The decision was collaborative, Volrath added, and made by principals and communities. Some facilities, such as Havre de Grace can accommodate their own graduations, but others had to share venues.

Although Kranefeld said the recommendation is for one school year, Volrath did say during the meeting that the plan, because it didn't specify calendar days, could be put into place for "several years" until other venues merit consideration.

Starting in 2008, according to the recommendation paperwork, the executive director was charged with providing annual recommendations for a graduation schedule, but with new high schools completed an annual review was not necessary.

Board member Robert Frisch did question the schedule, which members will vote on in August, asking who made the decision for schools to relocate from a home site to another venue. Volrath, who had earlier called the process "cost-efficient," said they made it a "collaborative" effort between his office and each school community.