Board approves moving graduation parades to Thursday to avoid busy weekend

The South Sanpete School District board voted Sept. 9 that any graduation parade held by the districthigh schools will be scheduled on Thursday rather than Friday to avoid competing regional permits and heavy weekend traffic.

Ralph, the district administrator leading calendar planning, recommended the move after consulting other districts and UDOT permit constraints. "So our proposal is our calendar is already set. Just do the graduation parade on the Thursday," he said. Board members discussed that seniors would still have traditional recognition opportunities, with hybrid assemblies and parades coordinated so families can attend both a recorded assembly and an outdoor parade. The board passed a motion that "if there is a parade for graduation at both high schools, it will be on Thursday," which carried on a voice vote.

Board members noted the district had surveyed families in prior years and received strong support for keeping parade elements while restoring in-person celebrations. Ralph said the hybrid model used in recent years allowed schools to provide both an assembly and a parade and recommended continuing that approach with the scheduling change so message to families and seniors could begin promptly.