Birmingham school officials canceled remaining high school graduation ceremonies after a student attending Tuesday’s graduation for Woodlawn High School tested positive for COVID-19.
“In light of this situation, along with the current climate of civil unrest, Birmingham City Schools is postponing the remaining graduation ceremonies that were scheduled for Sunday, June 7, 2020, at Legion Field," a statement from district officials said.
The first graduation ceremony was held Tuesday for Wenonah High School, where 151 graduates received their diplomas. On Sunday night, peaceful protests held downtown against the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman turned violent, resulting in widespread property damage.
The district planned to hold graduation ceremonies for the 1,200 seniors of the class of 2020 all this week at Legion Field. Four ceremonies, Carver, Huffman, Parker and Ramsay high schools, are being rescheduled. Plans are in the works to hold those ceremonies, officials said.
Most all of Alabama’s high schools have held or are scheduled to hold in-person graduation ceremonies. A high school student in Decatur who attended Austin High School’s graduation May 21 tested positive for the coronavirus, according to officials there.
“While we are proud of our graduates and their capacity for patience and perseverance during the historic and turbulent times, we hold the safety of our students as our highest priority.”
Related: Birmingham starts week of high school graduations at Legion Field
Update: 6/5/2020, 1:40 p.m. to correct Sunday, June 7th date.