The South Whidbey School Board has approved a plan to add two new graduation dates for seniors at South Whidbey High School.

Students who have met all of their graduation requirements early in the school year will be able to graduate in February, after the end of the first semester. And students who have had trouble wrapping up their senior culminating project, or who face a delay in meeting other graduation requirements, will be able to graduate in August.

The “rolling graduation dates” were proposed by Rob Merrell, principal at SWHS, and would affect about a half-dozen students who wrap up their course work early, and nearly three dozen students who need extra time to complete their senior projects.

Students who graduate early would be invited back to participate in the commencement ceremony in June. Students who graduate late, however, would be able to participate in graduation ceremonies held the following year.