State approves El Paso County’s in-person graduation variance plan
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The State Department of Public Health on Thursday approved El Paso County's variance request to allow in-person graduation ceremonies with restrictions.
That means that in-person graduation ceremonies will be taking place for students in El Paso County, after all -- albeit with limitations.
"You asked for a variance related to the conduct of graduation events for schools in El Paso County. Your letter addresses particular requirements that you propose as an alternative to theSafer at Home model for each of these areas," Jill Ryan wrote in a letter to El Paso County.
The following guidelines were sent to school districts to follow in the variance. School districts must submit a written plan to the department three weeks before the proposed ceremony date.
- 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 contraindicates hosting in-person ceremonies.
- Ceremonies must be held outside with weather contingency plans of transition to virtual-only or tents. 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.
- If outside facilities cannot accommodate the six-foot distancing, ceremonies must be held in the number of shifts necessary to allow for such distancing.
- 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.
- A no-touch or no-contact procedure for receipt of the diploma must be implemented, such as presentation on a table by staff to be picked up by the student.
- A permission slip or behavior contract must be signed by students and parents 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.
- Proposals to address students with special needs or who may require assistance must be included.
- An inclusionary plan must be developed for families or students not wishing or not able to participate in person.
El Paso County's proposal is much more relaxed in comparison to Gov. Jared Polis' proposal, which would still limit the ceremonies to 10 people or less.
"How a school would go about doing that -- in shifts or individuals, or bringing families in one at a time onto campus -- would be a decision other counties have to think about," says Dr. Leon Kelly, acting deputy medical director of El Paso County Public Health.
Kelly says the stark contrast in Polis' proposal versus El Paso County's plan has to do with the governor's plan needing to address different circumstances across the state.
