Waco ISD is planning to celebrate every graduate’s success with two events.

• On May 29 and 30, Waco ISD will hold ceremonies at the Waco ISD Stadium for the University and Waco High Classes of 2020. These events are just for our seniors and are intended to give each graduating class the opportunity to come together as a group to mark this milestone. They will be modeled on the U.S. Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony last month. Both ceremonies will be broadcast live on WISD-TV (channel 17 on cable) and online at wacoisd.org/live.
• Between June 15 and 26, graduates will sign up for individual time slots to pick up their diplomas at their campus with their families. While at the campus, there will be an opportunity for families to have professional photos taken with graduates in their caps and gowns.

District leaders met three times with a committee of seniors, parents of seniors, and staff members from both high schools to discus their priorities on how our graduation ceremonies and other senior celebrations might be adapted to fit our current requirements for social distancing. A common priority was for Waco ISD to provide the opportunity for each school’s graduating class to gather together in person one more time.

Waco ISD sought input from many stakeholders and experts, including our seniors and their families, in developing graduation plans. District leaders met three times with a committee of seniors, parents of seniors, and staff members from both high schools to hear their priorities – which included the opportunity for each school’s graduating class to gather together in person one more time.

Additionally, in Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon’s community update on April 24, she asked our seniors and their families to share their ideas for graduation via email. District leaders also consulted with city and county officials as well as local health experts.

In the midst of a pandemic, this plan does allow both for each senior class to be together as a group and for families to be with their graduates when they receive their diplomas at their campus while still addressing public health concerns about large gatherings.

Modifying the date of the ceremonies at the stadium would not change the requirements that Waco ISD has to comply with. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) initially announced that most school districts could begin holding outdoor graduation ceremonies on June 1; however that date was moved back to May 29, which allowed Waco ISD to schedule the ceremonies at the stadium for May 29 and 30.

The ceremonies were initially scheduled for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the same day inside the Ferrell Center at Baylor University. As that venue is not currently holding events, our ceremonies are now being held outdoors and the decision to start both programs at 10 a.m. on two consecutive days was made to avoid the afternoon heat.

With that consideration in mind, these dates are the first available opportunities to honor our graduates. Additionally, the state has repeatedly cautioned that “permission is subject to change as underlying public health conditions change.” Waco ISD’s goal remains to create a special moment and memory for our seniors and their families. We are concerned that by delaying graduation, the possibility of the state withdrawing permission to hold outdoor ceremonies would leave each senior class without the chance to be together as a group.

The decision to limit the ceremonies at the stadium to our seniors is an effort to maximize social distancing – especially as people are entering and exiting the stadium. According to the TEA’s “Guidance for Graduation and End-of-Year Promotion Ceremonies During COVID-19” issued on May 6, the state is requiring school districts to “cap the number of total participants (inclusive of students, families, and staff) to a level that can be managed in the outdoor venue to maximize social distancing, both during the event and during entry and exit.” The state is also requiring school districts to screen each participant for 11 signs that they could have COVID-19 before allowing them to attend an outdoor ceremony.

There are a limited number of entrances/exits to the stadium, and the District is concerned that it would not be possible to screen guests quickly enough to avoid groups congregating near the entrances. Similarly, it would be difficult to maintain social distancing after the ceremony with families understandably wanting to meet up with their seniors and then exiting through a limited number of exits.

As Dr. Kincannon stated in her May 8 community update this year’s graduation is “not anyone’s first choice.” In the midst of a pandemic, however, this plan does allow both for each senior class to be together as a group and for families to be with their graduates when they receive their diplomas at their campus while still addressing public health concerns about large gatherings.

The program is being finalized and more details will be available soon.