District announces plan for traditional graduation on campus

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Following considerable opposition the last two days to a "virtual only" graduation plan, the Perris Union High School District superintendent announced today that there will be traditional graduation ceremonies at local high schools at a later date, when it is considered safe to do so under health guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The announcement on the PUHSD Facebook page comes two days after the district announced that graduations would be held only through a virtual format, with videos broadcast the first week of June including pre-recorded speeches and the reading of students’ names as their pictures are shown on the screen. That announcement met with angry responses on social media from students and parents, a student-planned protest and an online petition that had obtained over 1,900 signatures by this morning.

Preston Root, a Paloma Valley High School senior and one of the organizers of the protest and petition, said he received a call this morning from Superintendent Grant Bennett, informing Root of his decision to have Paloma Valley, Heritage and Perris high schools hold in-person graduation ceremonies on their campuses when health guidelines suggest it is safe to do so.

“Mr. Bennett said the ceremonies might look different at each site, but they would definitely be on campus, whether it’s this fall, winter or even spring of 2021,” Root said. “The decision of when would be determined between the state and local phases of re-opening.

“This will be in addition to the virtual graduation in June. Mr. Bennett said he’s really proud of our class and how they persevered through all this. We’ve had overwhelming support online and in person. Mr. Bennett mentioned he had gotten a lot of emails, and that he personally responded to each one.”

Root said that in addition to emails to Bennett and the large number of signatures on the petition, students had contacted several Los Angeles television stations that had planned to cover Thursday’s protest at Paloma Valley High. That protest has been canceled, Root said.

“We’re very pleased that this is happening,” Root said. “We were looking not for the possibility of a delayed graduation ceremony, but at the promise. Now we have it.”

Following is the text of Bennett’s announcement made today on the PUHSD Facebook page:

Dear PUHSD Class of 2020,

Last week, plans were announced to hold virtual graduation ceremonies. Virtual ceremonies in no way limit or exclude future live commencement ceremonies. As soon as the state and county provide us with guidance on when we can welcome graduates and their families, PUHSD will plan and hold ceremonies for the Senior Class of 2020.

While this may not occur until fall, winter, or even later, we will plan in-person celebrations when permissible. In the meantime, PUHSD remains committed to providing meaningful virtual ceremonies that we hope will give our graduates a sense of pride and the opportunity to celebrate their tremendous accomplishments.

Virtual graduation ceremonies will replicate as many components of an in-person graduation ceremony as possible. The ceremony will be streamed for families to view from the comfort and safety of their own homes and may be shared with friends and families throughout the world. Although it isn’t an in-person celebration, it is still one that you will want to participate in and look back on later in life.

We know this is a hard way to finish your time as a senior and under normal circumstances we would be gathering in person to honor you at this most memorable milestone. Your strength, courage and adaptability during this time are both remarkable and inspiring. You have achieved so much under extraordinary circumstances, and we could not be prouder of each and every one of you. On behalf of the entire PUHSD community, we applaud you and look forward to joining you virtually the first week of June, and in-person when the time is right.

Sincerely,

Grant Bennett
Superintendent