DOH gives graduation guidance for Class of 2020

WHITMAN COUNTY – The decision to host safe and socially distanced graduation ceremonies will remain at the discretion of local school boards and superintendents, stated the Washington Department of Health in a release providing various scenarios and guidance for graduation ceremonies during the COVID-19 pandemic May 14.

The DOH guidance for ceremonies in counties within Phase II of the “Safe Start” reopening plan include that there may be no person-to-person contact during the ceremony, such as students can not be handed their diplomas and handshakes can not be given.

According to the DOH, districts and school, if possible, should ensure students receive diplomas and caps and gowns in advance through mail or delivery so the students can arrive dressed and with their diplomas in hand.

For any school district that plans to have a ceremony, outside the home where it’s not done through virtual ceremonies, videos or social media they are asked to consider accommodations that would be needed to ensure equitable participation and safety.

The DOH recommends any outside-of-the-home ceremony be done in either a gallery drive, where large yard signs are placed with pictures and names of the seniors and residents can drive by during specified times; drive-through, allowing the students to hold a drive-by graduation allowing their name called out over an audio system and have their photo taken as they go through; drive-in, instead of seeing a movie, graduation can be held in a drive-in format; recorded or live-streamed individualized ceremony at the school, individual students may come to the school at prearranged times to walk across a stage in their cap and gown and have a photo/video taken.

A few school districts in the county have already made plans for graduation ceremonies. Garfield/Palouse has postponed its graduation ceremony to Saturday, June 27. Gar-Pal Principal Mike Jones said they are hoping to have an outdoor graduation with immediate family only, following social distancing guidelines and live-stream the ceremony for the community to enjoy, but plans are still in the works.

Oakesdale is also planning to hold a graduation ceremony for its seniors on Saturday, June 6, allowing adequate social distancing.

It is not until phase 3 of the “Safe Start” plan that gatherings of 50 or fewer people are allowed. With this standard, the DOH said that all in-person ceremonies with audiences are not safe whether indoors or outside.

“Our date will remain on June 6 and we are currently working on our plan for the ‘ceremony’,” said Oakesdale Superintendent Jake Dingman.

“Gathering increases the potential for transmission of COVID-19. Likewise, indoor graduations/commencement ceremonies will not be permitted,” according to the DOH guidance for graduations.

According to DOH, all school districts operating during phase two have a general obligation to keep a safe and healthy facility in accordance with state and federal law, and comply with the following COVID-19 worksite-specific safety practices, as outlined in Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” Proclamation.