Wake promises answers soon on how high school graduations will be held amid pandemic
Wake County school leaders said Friday they plan to announce within the next two weeks how high school graduation ceremonies will be held this year.
Graduation ceremonies planned for May and June for Wake County’s 11,000 high school seniors are uncertain as the coronavirus pandemic has led to a statewide stay-at-home order that restricts large gatherings. But options such as virtual graduations and in-person graduations in the summer are on the table, according to school leaders.
“The likelihood of anything that resembles a traditional graduation in May or June again is unlikely,” Wake County school board chairman Keith Sutton said at a news conference Friday. “But we’ve heard a lot from our students, from our parents and the community, and they would like to see something.
“Anything that we put together that may resemble a traditional graduation or a virtual nature will take some planning.”
Graduations make social distancing challenging
The large crowds at graduations pose social distancing challenges. Most Wake high schools have 400 to 600 graduates who bring multiple guests.
On Thursday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he’s hopeful the state can begin easing next week some of the restrictions that have been put in place since March 28 to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.
But Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore said at this point that a traditional June graduation is “highly unlikely.”
Wake formed a team of administrators to look at how to handle graduation ceremonies this year. The team will meet in the next week with high school principals, senior class leadership and PTA representatives to get their suggestions.
“We hope to have a formal decision within the next two weeks so families and faculty can make their own plans for celebrating this genuine landmark achievement,” Sutton said.
Time is running out on making decisions on graduation plans.
“We’re getting to a point here where we’ve got a push-pull on a decision,” Moore said. “That’s why the feedback that we’ll be seeking in the next few days is so important.”
The uncertainty about whether and how graduations will be held has caused high schools to look for other ways to honor their seniors. Apex Friendship High principal Matt Wight wrote the names of all 590 graduating seniors on a wall in the school as part of a tribute video posted on YouTube.
Uncertainty for next school year
Also on Friday, Moore said it’s unclear when schools will reopen and what changes will be required before students are allowed back on campuses. She said many questions that school leaders and parents are asking now won’t be answered until the state releases health guidance in June.
State Superintendent Mark Johnson announced Thursday the creation of the N.C. Schools Reopening Task Force that will look at issues such as what social distancing restrictions will be required.
“The one thing that we know for certain is that school will look very different next year — perhaps drastically different,” Moore said. “There are many unanswered questions regarding school calendars and how new health and safety protections might affect day-to-day operations.”
With 40,000 students at year-round schools that start in July, Moore said Wake has unique challenges with reopening. Sutton said Wake may form its own reopening task force.
“Families and staff should not be surprised if we need to blend some forms of remote learning with more traditional school routines,” Moore said. “We simply don’t know right now.”
