District 161 Postpones Graduation, Cancels May Events

FRANKFORT, IL — The possibility of holding large events in the summer is still an unknown due to the coronavirus pandemic. At its April 15 meeting, the Summit Hill District 161 board of education approved the postponement of eighth grade graduation and the cancellation of all May extracurricular and co-curricular activities, including the eighth grade banquet and eighth grade trip to Great America.

Superintendent Barb Rains said no money had been paid toward the Great America trip yet; and the facility will return the deposit for the eighth grade banquet.

If funds were collected for either event, the district will give a refund.

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The board postponed the eighth grade graduation and will continue to reexamine the possibility of holding the event during the summer.

"We will postpone the graduation and do whatever we can do as we get into the summer months," Board president Rich Marron said. "As we get into May, June, July, we would put together a graduation in whatever form we can."

Marron said it could be an outdoor event, or more formal or informal, depending on what guidance is from health authorities.

If you're a student affected by this and want to share your story with Patch, you can reach out and email andrea.earnest@patch.com.

Read more:

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 17: 25,733 Cases; 1,072 Deaths
• Pritzker Suggests Canceling Large Summer Events Over Coronavirus