Durham Public Schools to take some graduation ceremonies to the mall

Yard signs popping up soon across Durham neighborhoods won’t be promoting political candidates.

Instead they’ll be saluting high-school seniors, as Durham Public Schools seeks ways to celebrate its graduates in the era of social distancing.

The school system delivered yard signs to students this week featuring their school’s name, mascot and the words “Congratulations Class of 2020!”

And while some schools plan to hold ceremonies on their campus, the school system has arranged for others to have ceremonies at The Streets at Southpoint mall, Deputy Superintendent Nakia Hardy told the school board Thursday night.

Each school picked a graduation option based on guidance from the state and its students, Hardy said. Options included having a virtual graduation, a drive-in or drive-through graduation, or a combination.

Durham’s high school graduations, some traditionally held at Duke and N.C. Central universities, were out this year because of COVID-19 concerns. Scheduling ceremonies later in the summer was also rejected.

“Mass gatherings are going to be very difficult for us to hold, even in the months of July and August,” Hardy said. “Even our smallest graduating class (is) 100, and that does not account for extended family.”

“We definitely recognize many of our students, they’re heartbroken,” she said. “However we also have a responsibility to keep our children safe.”

Durham County had 841 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 31 deaths as of Thursday night, according to the Durham County Health Department.

At drive-in ceremonies, families will remain in parked cars while graduates walk along a pathway marked for safety to receive their diplomas.

With the drive-through ceremonies, students will remain in their cars until they drive up a marked course to get their diploma. Student will either stay in the car or get out to collect their diploma, as determined by each school.

“Even if the mall opens, they have agreed to allow us the use of the parking lot,” Hardy said. “So that parking lot would be closed to the public.”

Large screens and a sound system will be set up for visitors to watch the proceedings and so students and family members can hear the graduates’ names called.

In virtual and hybrid ceremonies recorded speeches and photographs will be posted on YouTube at a specific time for families to watch at home. When the virtual ceremony ends, families can drive to the school for students to collect their diploma.

In response to a question from board member Bettina Umstead, Hardy said staff members will wear face coverings and schools will have masks for their students.

“Absolutely,” she said.

The goal is to give students a sendoff to remember, even if it’s not what many were anticipating.

“Each of us remembers our graduation ceremony,” Hardy said. “For our 2020 graduates, they have experienced their senior year different from what any of us could have imagined.”

When will Durham high schools hold graduation ceremonies?

Here is the tentative schedule for high school graduation ceremonies:

Thursday, May 21

▪ J.D. Clement Early College High School, 9 a.m., Southpoint mall, drive-in ceremony

▪ City of Medicine Academy, 12 noon, Southpoint mall, drive-in ceremony

▪ New Tech High School, 3 p.m., Southpoint mall, drive-in ceremony

▪ Middle College High School, 6 p.m., Southpoint mall, drive-in ceremony

Wednesday, June 10

▪ Durham Performing Learning Center, 9 a.m., Southpoint mall, drive-through ceremony

▪ Lakeview School, 11 a.m., Lakeview School, drive-through ceremony

▪ School for Creative Studies, 5 p.m., School for Creative Studies, virtual and drive-through ceremony

Thursday, June 11

▪ Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, 9 a.m. to noon (A-M) and 2-5 p.m. (N-Z), Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, drive-through ceremony

▪ Riverside High School, 9 a.m., 11 am. and 1 p.m. (120 students each), Riverside High School, virtual and drive-through ceremony

▪ Jordan High School, 3 p.m., virtual and drive-through ceremony

Friday, June 12

▪ Hillside High School, 9 a.m., Southpoint mall, drive-in ceremony

▪ Northern High School, 1 p.m., Northern High School, drive-through ceremony

▪ Durham School of the Arts, 5 p.m., DSA, virtual and drive-through ceremony

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 7:06 PM.