Ringgold rules out commencement
By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com
Ringgold School District has decided not to hold a traditional, in-person graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020.
The final date administrators reserved for a potential ceremony was July 8, but Acting Superintendent Randy Skrinjorich announced this week that the district won’t use the date.
“We had continued to hope that by our third scheduled date, which was scheduled in July, state level restrictions would be lifted and we would be able to meet to celebrate our graduates in the manner to which we have become accustomed,” Skrinjorich wrote in a letter to parents and graduates. “I regret to inform you that even though our County has been moved to ‘green,’ the restrictions in place still prohibit us from holding a gathering in which more than 250 people are present. Because of this restriction, we will not be able to host a traditional graduation for the Class of 2020. I realize that many may find this news upsetting, as do we.”
In a school board meeting this month, Skrinjorich and board members said they wanted to wait as long as possible to see if the guidelines restricting gatherings of 250 or more people would change, but in the letter Skrinjorich wrote that he wanted to give families notice in case they’re making vacation plans or return-to-school preparations.
Students received their diplomas in a drive-in, virtual graduation. The students were able to take photos in their caps and gowns at the high school as part of the process.
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