Schools Make Tentative Graduation Plans

Area schools are making tentative plans to honor the Class of 2020 with graduation, in some form, as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

In a letter to Vian students and family members, Superintendent Victor Salcedo said the school has set July 10 as a tentative graduation date. He noted, however, that the planned traditional ceremony will observe the latest health guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Salcedo pointed out that the entire plan is contingent upon COVID-19 bans being lifted.

“Please note that this is a tentative date and is subject to change. Specific information on any graduation celebration for the Class of 2020 will be shared with the school community when any plans are finalized,” Salcedo concluded.

At Gans, Superintendent Larry Calloway said Monday that at a board meeting last week, it was decided to poll the school’s senior class and their parents to get their input on what type of ceremony would be best, whether virtual or a traditional in-person graduation. Calloway said the school hasn’t set a date for the event yet; instead it will wait and see what the students want and when pandemic rules are lifted.

“We’re going to try to accommodate everyone,” Calloway said. “We’re not making definite plans” at the moment because the school doesn’t want to set a date and then have to cancel the event again, he said.

In Roland, Superintendent Randy Martin said Monday that school officials had discussed graduation, but no definite plans had been made. “We are looking at either summer or fall,” Martin said, even though summer graduation may be a problem because the school does not have an indoor venue suitable to hold a graduation ceremony.

Sallisaw Superintendent Randy Wood said Monday that the school has plans “in the works,” but nothing is set in stone at this time.

Calls to other area schools went unanswered Monday.

Laura Brown, KXMX Staff Writer

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