PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia parents and high school seniors were holding onto hope that graduations could be held in June. But the superintendent said that won't be possible now.
Superintendent William Hite said when Gov. Tom Wolf last week closed schools for the rest of the academic year, it meant there was no way there could be graduations at their normal time.
"We have no choice but to cancel high school graduation ceremonies scheduled in June,” he said.
In his weekly Facebook Live message to parents, Hite said if the social distancing orders were lifted in time, it was possible the ceremonies could be rescheduled for summer.
He said the district was planning "some sort of virtual senior celebration" but he didn't have details.
"We also know for certain that there will be no proms,” he added.
Hite said class dues and prom fees would be returned, but he asked students to be patient. Hite said many schools made deposits on venues, and they're now working to get that money back.
