County Reverses Decision on Monrovia High Graduation Plans

On Friday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced that the County has changed course on Monrovia High School’s graduation plans slated for June 3. The county will now allow the plans to go ahead, after all.

“This is a great day for Monrovia seniors and families. The entire school board, Bryan Wong, Maritza Travanti, Selene Lockerbie and Ed Gililland wish to thank everyone in our community for advocating for our graduates. With the help of students, parents, City of Monrovia, MPD, MFD, MHS staff and MUSD District Office staff, the school board was able to convey the wishes of our town. A special thank you goes to Supervisor Kathryn Barger for her leadership in helping to bring about the positive result,” Rob Hammond told Monrovia Weekly Friday afternoon.  

During difficult times, occasionally come ingenious, albeitambitious, ideas. Enter Monrovia High School’s plan to essentially have adrive-up graduation where students can pick up their diploma, shoot a picture,and then dash back to the car to let the next graduate in line receive theirdiploma, and so on.

To do this, the city, police department and the school districtwent through countless scenarios and ultimately came up with what they believeis a workable plan to keep everyone safe while receiving their diplomas inextremely unprecedented times.

The plan is for 2020 graduates to be honored by the sports stadiumlights shining each Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. for 20 minutes and then receivetheir diplomas on June 3 during the drive-thru event that has been carefullyplanned to meet county COVID-19 conditions.

Last Friday, a joint statement was issued by Los Angeles CountyDirector of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Los Angeles CountySuperintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo on in-person graduationceremonies, creating a problem for Monrovia’s plans.

What a difference one week makes. Go get ‘em Wildcats!

MUSD superintendent of schools, Katherine Thorossian, shared thenews with Monrovia Weekly.

The County set the following guidelines for car parades:

Car parades cannot includeparticipants on a bicycle, a motorcycle, a convertible with the top open, or avehicle with no doors such as a golf cart. If any of the windows on a vehicleis open, the occupants of the vehicle must wear a face covering.

Any organizationcoordinating a large-scale parade must have a designated organizational hostwho is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules for the parade andadherence to the State’s Stay at Home Order that precludes gatherings.Only those personnel of the organization necessary to facilitate the parade andto ensure compliance can be present at the location designated by the host. 

The host must: 

• At its own cost, arrangefor and provide security sufficient to ensure compliance with the State’s Orderand address any traffic and safety issues.
• Develop a parade plan thatdeals with State’s Order, traffic and safety issues, parade participants, andsocial distancing requirements.
• Ensure participants andpersonnel adhere to the face covering and physical distancing requirements.
• The host may provide asignificant document to one vehicle parade participant at a time, such as adiploma or other paper, while adhering to face covering and social distancingrequirements.

The parade must: 

• Take place in an outsidelocation large enough to accommodate the social distancing requirements.
• Proceed by the host’sinvitation only, with the parade limit of vehicles tied to the capacity size ofthe location.
• Not allow sales orexchanges of any items or food.

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