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State Board of Education dashes hopes for GHS graduation

Galesburg High School administration was making an honest effort at holding in-person graduation, prom, and other seniors event but guidance handed down from the Illinois State Board of Education Thursday might have ended those plans.

District 205 Superintendent John Asplund says ISBE’s guidance said no in-person ceremonies can take place before the end of the academic year which is June 30.
Asplund says they are still holding out hope, but GHS already had a back-up plan of a virtual ceremony on July 17.

“Those things could change, and we’re trying to remain as flexible as we can, and hold out hope that we can do something for our graduates this year,” Asplund says. “If not we’re still committed to doing something.”

Asplund says ISBE’s guidance said they are trying to be consistent with the Governor’s stay-at-home order, although Asplund is a little confused since the stay-at-home order is set to expire at the end of May.

Asplund says every graduate deserves to be recognized and have the closure in their District 205 career.

District 205 polled seniors several weeks ago and Asplund reports that 85 percent said they wanted an in-person ceremony even if it means waiting.

However, there were some that indicated that if the ceremony were held past a certain date they wouldn’t be able to attend.

Listen to our full interview with John Asplund tonight (Friday May, 1) at 5:40 p.m on Galesburg’s Evening News.   After it airs you can listen by clicking here.

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