Plano ISD planning in-person graduation ceremonies for early June

PLANO, TX – Plano ISD plans to hold four in-person graduation ceremonies for its high school graduates at John Clark Stadium in early June.

District staff worked with district principals and two focus groups of senior students and parents of seniors from Academy High, Plano East Senior High, Plano Senior High and Plano West Senior High to put together its plans for this year’s graduating class. Brittnea Ussery, assistant director of communications, community engagement and events, detailed the plans for the PISD board of trustees during its meeting March 23.

“We’re just not quite there to have just a totally normal ceremony,” Ussery said. “There’s still the need for some safety protocols and procedures to be put in place.”

In addition to requiring masks for all attendees during the outdoor ceremonies, Ussery said Clark Stadium will allow graduates’ chairs, participants on stage and guests to be socially distanced.

She presented plans for the four ceremonies to be held either in the mornings and evenings of June 4-5 or for the senior highs to have evening ceremonies on June 3-5 and Academy High to have its ceremony on the morning of June 5. The board members expressed their preference for evening ceremonies.