As a very unusual school year winds to a close, area districts have been making plans on how to conduct graduation ceremonies.
Robert Richardson, Superintendent of Hoopeston Area Schools, says they are planning a virtual ceremony with pictures of the graduates placed in a video. He says it will be shown on Channel 16 and social media outlets at 3:00 p.m. on May 17th.
Westville School Superintendent Seth Miller says plans are still being reviewed, but added they hope to make a decision on how graduation will be handled by the end of the week. The Westville district has been reviewing two options. One of them says if restrictions are relaxed for an in-person graduation event before July 13th, a ceremony will be announced and all graduating seniors would have an opportunity to participate if they choose. The second option involves a video that will be compiled highlighting significant accomplishments of the graduating seniors.
Georgetown – Ridge Farm High School Principal Kevin Thomas says they will be having an individual ceremony on Friday, May 8th. He says students will be walking individually into the high school gymnasium on 7 minute intervals for the ceremony. It will be video recorded and then a virtual graduation presentation is set for May 17th – which is the same date graduation had been scheduled before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Salt Fork School Superintendent Phil Cox said his district is still discussing options on graduation, but expects to make a decision by the end of the week.
The Illinois State Board of Education recently said normal high school graduations would not be allowed this year because of concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus.
