KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Some Kansas City metro school districts on both sides of the state line still plan to have outdoor graduations, despite rising COVID-19 numbers.
The Shawnee Mission School District, however, announced on Monday that it had canceled in-person graduation ceremonies and now plans to hold them virtually.
"I didn't even think the last day before spring break that this would be the last time I saw most of these people, that I would never get to see them again," said Alexis Monks, graduating from Shawnee Mission South High School.
The school district said the reason for canceling the already rescheduled ceremonies is due to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Johnson County.
"These are our kids. We know what this means to them and it's the worst decision to make, except to have the in-person graduation and to put our and our families at risk," said David Smith, chief communications officer for Shawnee Mission School District.
Seniors who spoke with 41 Action News said they are devastated by this news.
"It went from at first a, 'Maybe we will have an in-person graduation,' to, 'We will have an in person graduation,' and then less then two weeks before graduation, they (said), 'So, oh, never mind. It's going to be virtual,'" said Brandon Kirmer, graduating from Shawnee Mission South High School.
Questions now remain if other districts will do the same.
These districts currently plan to hold in-person graduation ceremonies this month:
- Independence School District: July 11 at Children's Mercy Park.
- Olathe School District: July 24-26 outside the College Boulevard Activities Center.
- Lawrence School District: July 18 at each high school's stadium.
- Lee's Summit School District: July 26 at Children's Mercy Park.
- Ray-Pec School District: July 17-18 at Panther Stadium.
- De Soto School District: July 25 at Olathe District Activity Center.
- Blue Springs: July 18, Children's Mercy Park.
All of these ceremonies are outside and will require people to socially distance. Some districts also are limiting how many guests each student can have.
In place of live ceremonies, the Shawnee Mission School District said it will broadcast virtual ceremonies live on these dates:
- East, 8 p.m. July 14
- South, 8 p.m. July 14
- North, 8 p.m. July 15
- West, 8 p.m. July 15
- Northwest, 8 p.m. July 16
- Arrowhead, 6 p.m. July 16
- Horizons, 8 p.m. July 16
