D11 to proceed with modified in-person and virtual graduation plans

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Having obtained state approval, School District 11 will move forward with plans to hold in-person graduation ceremonies at Garry Berry Stadium, according to a statement from the district Friday.

This comes after the variance request submitted by El Paso County Commissioners was approved by the state health department late Thursday, said the district.

D11 provided the following dates and times of each graduation ceremony:

The plan is to hold the in-person graduations in June, as follows:

• Monday, June 22, Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus combined schools (Achieve Online, The Bijou School, Odyssey Early College and Career Options, Tesla Educational OpportunitySchool)
• Tuesday, June 23, Palmer High School
• Wednesday, June 24, Mitchell High School
• Thursday, June 25, Coronado High School
• Friday, June 26, Doherty High School

All ceremonies will start promptly at 8 a.m., and schools will communicate more details as the plans are developed.

D11 provided the following criteria all ceremonies must follow, as outlined in the variance:

• Ceremonies should be held in a staggered manner as late into the spring or summer as possible to allow for the evaluation of current loosening of social distancing policies.
• Written plans must include a fully virtual option in the event incoming data prohibits hosting inperson ceremonies (D11 is already planning for virtual graduations in May).
• Ceremonies must be held outside with weather contingency plans of transition to virtual-only.
• Indoor ceremonies are prohibited.
• Ceremonies must be STUDENT ONLY with minimal staff required to manage students and flow of ceremonies.
• All students and staff must meet six-foot social distancing at all times, including when entering and exiting the ceremony.
• No parents, guests, or observers are allowed on-site. Ceremonies may be broadcast electronically for all viewers.
• No associated social gatherings of students or staff are permitted at ceremony facilities prior to or following the ceremony.
• All students and staff must wear cloth face coverings over the nose and mouth at all times, with the exception of individual photographs by an official photographer while social distancing from others.
• Students and parents must sign a permission slip or behavior contract concerning risk mitigation. It must include a health screening survey that is completed the day of the ceremony and prior to entry, to include questions about fever, cough, congestion, chills, or other symptoms exhibited by the student or others in the household in the previous 14 days, with any positive answers resulting in exclusion of the student from participation in the ceremony.

The district will also be holding virtual graduations at each school, which will be held next week. The dates, times and links of each ceremony are listed below. The link will not be live until the time of each graduation.

• Doherty: May 19, 9 a.m., https://youtu.be/c1V8-winMP4
• Coronado: May 19, 3 p.m., https://youtu.be/JvzR3mdSFFQ
• Mitchell: May 20, 9 a.m., https://youtu.be/wdyhNDiGlf0
• Palmer: May 20, 3 p.m., https://youtu.be/LBinYkOAjyE
• Odyssey: May 21, 9 a.m., https://youtu.be/TsOikrIs8WM
• Bijou: May 21, 1 p.m., https://youtu.be/hgyi5cwSGUs
• Achieve: May 22, 9 a.m., https://youtu.be/zhY0zQIxz-Q
• Tesla: May 22, 1 p.m., https://youtu.be/uYdrc1fiK-g