{"id":198619,"date":"2020-05-07T09:34:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T14:34:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=198619"},"modified":"2020-05-07T09:54:26","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T14:54:26","slug":"nd-announces-plans-guidelines-graduation-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=198619","title":{"rendered":"ND announces plans, guidelines, graduation, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said Wednesday that a \u201cvirtual graduation ceremony\u201d will be broadcast and livestreamed across North Dakota May 30 as a special opportunity to honor North Dakota\u2019s Class of 2020. The ceremony is a bonus addition to any local graduation celebrations that local school districts will hold.<\/p>\n

The Department of Public Instruction is partnering with Gov. Doug Burgum\u2019s office, Forum Communications Co. of Fargo, and Microsoft Corp. to produce the live ceremony, Baesler said.<\/p>\n

It will take place May 30 at 2 p.m. Central time (1 p.m. Mountain). It will be broadcast on ABC affiliates in North Dakota, CSi Cable 11, and 78.11 HD, and a livestream will be available on the websites of Forum Communications properties InForum<\/a>, Grand Forks Herald<\/a>, Jamestown Sun<\/a> and The Dickinson Press<\/a>. The livestream will be available for free and will not be behind the company\u2019s paywall.<\/p>\n

It will honor 181 North Dakota high schools and include remarks from Burgum; a musical performance by Nashville recording artists Tigirlily<\/a>, two sisters who are natives of Hazen, N.D.; and remarks by a nationally known speaker or speakers, who will deliver an invocation and commencement address.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is intended to provide another special opportunity to honor and celebrate our 2020 graduates and their families, who have already sacrificed so much of their senior year celebrations because of COVID-19,\u201d Baesler said.<\/p>\n

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Wednesday that Gov. Doug Burgum is allowing North Dakota\u2019s schools to use school property for high school graduation ceremonies.<\/p>\n

North Dakota\u2019s school facilities have been closed to students since March 16 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Burgum ordered the closures by executive order<\/a>. He said Wednesday he was modifying his directive to allow school facilities to host graduations, \u201cwith proper social distancing, cleaning and safety precautions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The change was accompanied by detailed guidance<\/a>, produced by the governor\u2019s office, the Department of Public Instruction, and the state departments of health and emergency services, about how to conduct graduations while minimizing the risk of spreading COVID-19. The guidance document<\/a> is posted on the Department of Public Instruction\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognize that graduating from high school is a significant milestone in the lives of our seniors, their families, their friends, and other loved ones,\u201d the governor said. \u201cWe think the guidance Superintendent Baesler and I are providing offers options for schools to conduct their graduation ceremonies safely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Decisions on whether, when, or where graduation ceremonies should be held remain in the hands of local school boards and administrators.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are potential solutions for local consideration,\u201d Baesler said. \u201cIt\u2019s important to note that each school district consider whether a graduation ceremony or celebration should be held, and if so, how can it be held while respecting the recommended guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Dakota Department of Health.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guidance suggests that administrators \u201cconsider the status of COVID-19 in your community and surrounding areas when deciding whether to hold graduation,\u201d and says public health officials \u201ccan suspend any in-person part of graduation if there is a COVID-19 outbreak in the area before graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guidance includes a number of nontraditional options for holding ceremonies, including a \u201cgraduation parade\u201d and a \u201cdrive-in graduation\u201d in which families would remain in parked vehicles to observe the proceedings.<\/p>\n

The safety recommendations include<\/strong>:<\/p>\n