Pasco schools moving graduation to August because of coronavirus

Pasco school officials have set a tentative graduation date of Aug. 1.

Parents and the public were told about the plan in a Wednesday evening message after getting more than 1,300 responses to a survey about what they wanted from graduation.

The ceremonies have been in doubt since Gov. Jay Inslee closed schools as a move to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Kennewick said they were canceling the ceremony in favor of a drive-up event.

Richland school officials haven’t made it official, but they also are considering an August ceremony.

Most people responded that they wanted a graduation ceremony, said Jenny Rodriguez, the Pasco district’s executive director of teaching and learning.

As long as social distancing requirements are lifted in time for events, then the New Horizons High School Students will have a graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. on July 30, Chiawana High School students will graduate at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 and Pasco High School students will graduate at 6 p.m. Aug. 1.

If the restrictions aren’t lifted, the district may either bring in students and their families individually so they can take pictures. If that isn’t possible, then the district may switch to a virtual graduation.

“We are very proud of our seniors,” Rodriguez said. “We are just as excited as we always are to celebrate the achievements of our graduates. We are 100 percent committed to honoring our seniors.”