City Schools of Decatur has set August 1 as a tentative date for an in-person Decatur High graduation, beginning 9 a.m. at the school stadium. During this week’s school board meeting new Principal Rochelle Lofstrand pointed out there are a number of conditions attached, including CDC criteria for large gatherings and whether there’s a remission of COVID-19 by midsummer.
A final call on the ceremony will be made by July 11. Lofstrand said she wasn’t sure of the graduation’s fate if city schools’ don’t reopen for in-classroom learning. First day of school is slated for August 4.
The last day of school for Decatur High seniors is this Friday, but the traditional early June graduation ceremony was cancelled weeks ago.
Lofstrand said that in a survey posted last week on social media and email, students and families were asked to rank four potential graduation dates in order of preference. August 1 was the overwhelming choice, but if that date doesn’t work out a backup plan calls for a noon ceremony at the stadium on Nov. 21, the first Saturday of Thanksgiving break.
“It’s a very difficult situation,” Superintendent David Dude said during the meeting. “It’s challenging and no solution is going to be perfect.”
Meantime on Wednesday an impromptu car parade was announced to honor 2020 high school and college graduates in Decatur’s Winnona Park neighborhood. An announcement asks participants to line up on Inman Drive by 6:20 p.m. The route is roughly a one-mile loop around the neighborhood, and cheering neighbors are asked to keep a six-foot distance.
“I’m not concerned about the way this is presented,” Mayor Patti Garrett said Wednesday night. “It’s not a traditional parade. We’ve had a few of these type things [during the pandemic] for birthdays, where cars make a loop and honk their horns. It’s a time where people are trying to celebrate an important event, and they’re not able, at least for now, to see them walk down the stage and receive their diploma.”
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