Milford Plans 3 Options For Live High School Graduation Ceremony

MILFORD, MA — Milford is planning to hold an in-person graduation ceremony for 2020 seniors this August. But the type of ceremony will depend on the coronavirus situation.

Milford High School Principal Joshua Otlin told students about three different possible plans in a video message on Thursday. The ceremony will likely take place the weekend of Aug. 8, depending on the weather.

The preferred option for graduation will look similar to previous ones, where parents sit in bleachers at the football field, and students sit on the field.

Unlike usual graduations, parents would take up both bleachers, and students would be in the end zone. Two jumbo television screens would be used to make sure everyone see the graduates.

"It will be pretty close," Otlin said.

In the second option, students would sit on the football field while family members remain in their cars in nearby parking lots. The district would use TV and FM radio broadcasts to reach parents in their cars.

In the least preferred option, students and parents would remain in their cars parked outside the high school's gymnasium. Again, the ceremony would be broadcast on TV and radio.

A final decision won't be made until the end of July, Otlin said.

Otlin said that the graduation ceremony would depend heavily on how everyone in Milford behaves as far as social distancing and paying attention to the public health situation.

"The more we social distance, the more likely we can be together," he said. "We need everyone to do their part to increase the likelihood we can give the seniors the sendoff they deserve in August."