KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo Public Schools will still be required to mask-up for months to come and the district says it is too late to make changes to graduation ceremonies scheduled to take place in a couple of weeks.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday that outdoor mandates will be lifted on June 1st and indoor mandates on July 1st. Superintendent Dr. Rita Raichoudhuri announced at Thursday night’s School Board Meeting that current protocols will remain in place through the summer and into the fall. She says as long as many choose to stay unvaccinated, there will still be the threat of spreading the virus and disrupting the school year.
“Especially for our younger students who are not old enough to get the vaccine and for those in our community who may have compromised immune systems.”
School trustees who supported the decision include Jenny Hill, Jermaine Jackson, and Patti Sholler Barber.
As far as Kalamazoo Public School’s “drive-thru” graduation ceremonies planned next month, no changes are coming despite the end of mask mandates and limited capacities for outdoor events on June 1st. Raichoudhuri says it’s too late to rework their plans.
“As you can imagine, planning for things like graduation is no easy feat. Countless hours by multiple people have already gone into creating the plans, and they can not be changed.”
Many parents have expressed their disappointment with the plan for the ceremonies that shuffle seniors on stage in a staggered fashion to get their degrees, but trustees Ken Greschak and Patti Sholler-Barber say it worked well last year.
The Loy Norrix ceremony takes place June 2nd, Kalamazoo Central grads get their diplomas June 3rd and Phoenix High seniors graduate on June 4th.
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