New State Rules Mandate Changes To This Week’s Graduations

New state Covid0-19 rules that went into effect on Friday, July 31st have forced Kalamazoo Public Schools officials to move Kalamazoo's three graduation ceremonies outdoors.

These changes are in response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s latest executive order that limits indoor gatherings to ten people. KPS says "Whitmer’s Executive Orders 2020-160 and 2020-161, amending Michigan’s Safe Start Order, states beginning July 31, indoor gatherings must be limited to 10 people."

The grauation ceremonies for Kalamazoo are now scheduled this way for Loy Norrix, Kalamazoo Central, and Phoenix high schools and the Kalamazoo Innovative Learning Program (KILP):

• Phoenix High School and KILP, will now have graduation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, August 4th, at Loy Norrix High School’s soccer field, (at 606 E. Kilgore Road.)
• Loy Norrix High School, will celebrate its event one evening later, on the soccer field, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5th, on the school’s soccer field (at 606 E. Kilgore Road.)
• Kalamazoo Central High School will conduct its event at 6 p.m. Aug. 6, on the football field, (at 2432 N. Drake Road.)

Here are always ominous sounding words, but KPS says these ceremonies will happen "rain or shine". But the good news is the forecast for the next the middle of this week is for very nice weather, even better than you'd expect for the beginning of August.

Here's the rest of the important rules.

Graduating seniors and no more than five guests will arrive at staggered, designated times. Face coverings are required to attend, and social distancing practices will be observed.

The ceremonies will be live-streamed, with special pre-recorded sections, on the KPS YouTube channel.