KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Instead of walking across a stage, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools high school graduates will essentially graduate in their cars at the Boulevard Drive-In theater.
Graduates and their families will line up in their cars and drive in front of the big screen, where they will see their name and picture.
"We did the best we could that was creative, that we felt people would be able to really come out and support and be part of the community," said Stacy Yeager, vice president of the school board.
Ceremonies will take place as follows:
June 1 - The district's three alternative schools
June 2 - JC Harmon
June 3 - F.L. Schlagle
June 4 - Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
June 8 - Washington
June 9 - Wyandotte
The ceremony will start around 8 p.m. or 8:30 p.m., when it gets dark. Families should check with their high school to confirm the time.
The district is limiting it to one car per graduate, with a 15-person limit per car. No one is allowed outside their car.
The district will provide portable restrooms, but encourage families to use the restroom before coming to the ceremony.
One relative of three graduates, who did not want to use his name, said he is concerned people will not follow the rules, and could be at-risk for contracting COVID-19.
"The whole thing makes me nervous and I think they needed to have a different plan than this," the relative said.
He said he's worried that people will pack into their cars, and with relatives from different households.
Yeager said the Wyandotte County health department signed off on their plan. 41 Action News confirmed that with a health department spokesperson.
"We truly believe our parents will do the best they can to follow the rules. We hope they'd stick to guidelines set forth by the Unified Government," Yeager said.
Yeager said families may roll down their windows and is confident they will celebrate inside their cars.
There are, of course, mixed feelings about this alternative.
Many parents and students posted their thoughts on the district's Facebook page.
Some said how much they love the idea and the location, and praised the district for coming up with a creative solution.
One mom posted, "Sooo.... my senior just will not get to wear her cap and gown and walk???"
Another mom said she felt the district was not doing enough.
Another person posted, "Why not just postpone graduation until July?"
Yeager said a number of seniors said they will be leaving for college, the military, or have plans to move and would not be able to attend in July. One high school conducted a survey and most seniors supported the June plan.
Three high schools wanted to do the ceremonies in June, while others wanted to wait until July.
Yeager said the school board decided on Tuesday to stick with their initial June decision.
"There was still that fear that COVID would still take over in July and we didn't want to give them nothing and just a virtual graduation," Yeager said.
Many other districts in the metro - like Kansas City, Missouri, Public Schools, Independence School District and Shawnee Mission School District - are waiting to do in-person ceremonies in late July.
North Kansas City Schools is doing virtual ceremonies this week.
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