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, albeit ambitious, ideas. Enter Monrovia High School’s plan to essentially have a drive-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 their diploma, and so on.
To do this, the city, police department and the school district went through countless scenarios and ultimately came up with what they believe is a workable plan to keep everyone safe while receiving their diplomas in extremely unprecedented times.
The plan is for 2020 graduates to be honored by the sports stadium lights shining each Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. for 20 minutes and then receive their diplomas on June 3 during the drive-thru event that has been carefully planned to meet county COVID-19 conditions.
Last Friday, a joint statement was issued by Los Angeles County Director of Public Health Dr. Barbara Ferrer and Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo on in-person graduation ceremonies, creating a problem for Monrovia’s plans.
What a difference one week makes. Go get ‘em Wildcats!
MUSD superintendent of schools, Katherine Thorossian, shared the news with Monrovia Weekly.
The County set the following guidelines for car parades:
Car parades cannot include participants on a bicycle, a motorcycle, a convertible with the top open, or a vehicle with no doors such as a golf cart. If any of the windows on a vehicle is open, the occupants of the vehicle must wear a face covering.
Any organization coordinating a large-scale parade must have a designated organizational host who is responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules for the parade and adherence to the State’s Stay at Home Order that precludes gatherings. Only those personnel of the organization necessary to facilitate the parade and to ensure compliance can be present at the location designated by the host.
The host must:
- At its own cost, arrange for and provide security sufficient to ensure compliance with the State’s Order and address any traffic and safety issues.
- Develop a parade plan that deals with State’s Order, traffic and safety issues, parade participants, and social distancing requirements.
- Ensure participants and personnel adhere to the face covering and physical distancing requirements.
- The host may provide a significant document to one vehicle parade participant at a time, such as a diploma or other paper, while adhering to face covering and social distancing requirements.
The parade must:
- Take place in an outside location large enough to accommodate the social distancing requirements.
- Proceed by the host’s invitation only, with the parade limit of vehicles tied to the capacity size of the location.
- Not allow sales or exchanges of any items or food.
