Wayne County Public Schools plans to hold in-person, on-field graduations for its high school seniors.
During a special meeting of the Wayne County Board of Education on Friday, WCPS Communications and Public Information Officer Ken Derksen explained the option preferred by 81% of respondents was for in-person, on-field graduations at each individual school’s athletic field.
School board member Ven Faulk noted some grads may still not want to participate in an in-person commencement ceremony, so additional arrangements would have to be made.
School Board Chair Chris West said they must realize that, no matter what, the options were not going to be optimal.
West also said the district must keep the health and safety of the students and their guests in mind.
Doing away with the drive-in graduation plans, the school board voted to hold the in-person, on-field graduations at each of its high schools.
Before concluding its ongoing discussions about graduations, the Board of Education took the following actions for schools to help promote health and safety at their events:
- Social distancing will occur with 6-foot spacing between graduates and between groups of guests
- Due to capacity limitations of stadium seating with social distancing, seniors will be limited to two tickets for guests
- All seniors and guests must wear a mask or face-covering upon entrance to the ceremony, but can remove the mask or face covering once seated
- All seniors and guests will be required to complete a waiver of liability to attend a ceremony
WCPS Superintendent Michael Dunsmore noted it could take some time to put the ceremonies together.
