Duval School Board approves outdoor graduation ceremonies
Duval County Public Schools will host outdoor commencement ceremonies for the second consecutive year. The ceremonies will take place on school football fields for class of 2021 graduates. The move provides some certainty during a largely uncertain school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
School officials say making the call now gives the district time to prepare for safe, social-distanced ceremonies compared to last school year, when the pandemic prompted mass rescheduling.
When the COVID-19 pandemic originally struck, Duval Schools was forced to close schools in March — it would be the last time the class of 2020 would all be on campus together, with events like prom and graduation hanging in the balance for seniors.