St. Thomas and St. John High School Graduations Remain Hybrid

ST. THOMAS, USVI — Ivanna Eudora Kean (IEKHS) high school is hosting a hybrid graduation ceremony today and Charlotte Amalie (CAHS) high school are still planning a hybrid graduation tomorrow, despite a misleading article in the Virgin Islands Consortium. The article, published on May 19, suggested that an interim order issued by the Virgin Islands Board of Education (Board) required the Virgin Islands Department of Education to modify graduation plans for the two St. Thomas high schools.

The Department of Education confirmed today that the Board of Education has issued no such order.

A subsequent article published on May 20 by the Virgin Islands Consortium incorrectly reported that the Department of Education would “continue with walk-thru graduations in St. Thomas, in line with Governor Bryan’s override power.” Again, the Department of Education confirmed today that the Board of Education has not ordered the Department of Education to change any plans for the Territory’s 2021 high school graduations; therefore, no “override power” from the Bryan Administration is at play.

Graduations for the territory’s public high schools include an opening segment with prerecorded speeches and musical performances, an in-person diploma presentation for graduates, and a prerecorded closing with students’ formal cap and gown photos—the three parts amount to a hybrid graduation. While the 2021 graduations have always included in-person components, none of the territory’s public high schools will host traditional, sit-down gatherings this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A statement from the Department of education read, "Department of Education, health, and school and district officials met with student body presidents from the two high schools and their adult representatives on the evening of May 19 to discuss in-person graduation options. All parties amicably agreed that the planned, hybrid-walkthrough graduations satisfy health guidelines and the in-person experience."

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