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ST. CLOUD Schools across the state have been planning for in-person graduation events this year after 2020 graduations were forced to be socially-distanced in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many districts said they would wait to see if state COVID-19 restrictions would change before finalizing their graduation plans and they did. On May 14, Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order to lift the statewide mask mandate.
The order does not change the state s Safe Learning Plan which requires students and adults in public schools to wear face coverings in school for the rest of the 2020-21 school year. It does allow districts and businesses to require masks at events if they choose.
ST. CLOUD Potential prom-goers at St. Cloud Technical High School and Apollo High School can start to plan their outfits the district is planning in-person events for prom and graduation.
Prom events across the state were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and graduates could not gather in-person.
This year, St. Cloud Area School District students could get to celebrate the end of the semester with their classmates, if the pandemic doesn t worsen by May. We re very excited, said Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education Laurie Putnam. We re partnering with our students and our high schools to organize something that meets their hopes and dreams, and also fits within guidelines from the state.