Hatboro-Horsham Prepping For Virtual Graduation

HORSHAM, PA — Officials in the Hatboro-Horsham School District are holding out hope for a traditional graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020, but planning for a digital version.

System Superintendent Curtis Griffin said Tuesday that no final decision has been made about how and when Hatboro-Horsham High School's commencement ceremonies will be held, in light of the current coronavirus shutdown.

But preparing for a "state-of-the-art virtual graduation" takes five weeks and, as such, district officials have begun doing so, Griffin said.

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"We are taking these steps not because going this route is our desire, but because we need to prepare in the event that this is our only available option," Griffin said in a letter to the school community.

The last day of school in the district, according to the original 2019-20 calendar, was June 16.

In the letter, Griffin said the hope of district officials is that an in-person commencement can be held some time after Pennsylvania's social-distancing orders are over.

"The idea of holding a large gathering has, at present, been removed from our hands as a result of the state’s mandate regarding social distancing," he wrote. "In a perfect world, this mandate will be lifted and we will all celebrate together at a traditional graduation ceremony."

A digital ceremony could be "the first phase of a two-phase celebration," Griffin said.

"However, we have no ability to predict what the future months ahead for any of us," he said. "What we do know is this: we admire and respect the Class of 2020 and will do everything we can do within the parameters of what is lawful and safe to celebrate each and every member of the graduating class. I give you my word on that."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, in a conference call with reporters Tuesday, addressed the issue of graduations, saying any ceremonies held should follow social distancing guidelines.

Students will graduate, but how people celebrate the right of passage will be up to the districts in conjunction with the state's guidelines, he said.

"Whatever (the districts) do, they better recognize that social distancing is going to be important," Wolf said.

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