KILLEEN, Texas — COVID-19 has changed day-to-day life for so many and it also changed graduation ceremonies for local school districts. Killeen ISD decided to hold a virtual graduation ceremony.
Each student will submit a photo of themselves in their cap and gown. It will be placed on a slide along with a message and it will pop up when their name is called during the ceremony.
"We needed to find something that could honor our seniors at one certain time. Not to say that there could not be something in the future beyond this, but at this time we wanted to find one thing that all of our seniors can look forward to. That can participate in whether they have health concerns or they are planning on moving in the near future," KISD Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Taina Maya said.
There are now a couple of online petitions that have called on KISD to push graduation back.
"The Killeen Independent School District Class of 2020 would rather wait until August 2020 to experience a physical graduation than to endure a virtual graduation in May 2020. Waiting until August gives the current crisis time to cease its existence as a serious threat as long as people follow the current rules in place that protect us throughout the upcoming months," the petition reads.
Some district parents are not happy with the plan in place. One felt the district jumped into a backup plan without offering other ideas.
"Plan on your virtual graduation, but lets put a plan a which is what our parents want," KISD Parent Marelisa Smith said.
Ellison Senior Heather Campbell said a virtual graduation is kind of insulting.
"We have put so much work and effort into the last four years and its kind of just a pat on the back," Campbell said.
According to Maya, since the beginning, KISD talked about the impact on seniors and discussed multiple options.
"I want our seniors to know that beyond a shadow of a doubt we're here for them and we want to make sure they are celebrated and honored," Maya said.
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