This is a petition to express support for Ballard Class of 2021 having an outdoor and safety guided in-person graduation this June. We invite all Ballard Seniors and other community stakeholders to sign this petition in support if it aligns with how each individual in the community feels. As of now, the School District has not officially announced plans or guidelines for this year’s graduation, but it has come to our attention that discussions of a virtual graduation are actively being considered like last year. We encourage the School District to decide to allow High Schools to begin planning an in-person graduation.

Safety: While the comfort of each student and family is important, we encourage everyone to let the science behind outdoor Covid transmission facts guide their opinion and the District’s decision. This New York Times article explains the dangers of ‘Covid Absolutism’:

• “Worldwide, scientists have not documented any instances of outdoor transmission unless people were in close conversation.”
• “A student walking across campus — let alone a masked student — presents little risk to another student who remains at least six feet away.”
• https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/briefing/trump-covid-chick-corea-olympics-president.html

So, we support a fully outdoor, masked, and socially distanced Graduation. Memorial Stadium has a capacity of 12,000 people in the stands. With caps on the number of guests per student, Memorial Stadium can safely accommodate Ballard as follows:

• A cap of four guests per student would equate to a total of 2,500 people: 500 students seated eight feet apart on the field and 2,000 guests in the stands, which would equate to 17% capacity in the stands.
• A cap of two guests per student would yield a group of 1,500 people: 500 students seated eight feet apart on the field and 1,000 guests in the stands, which would equate to 8% capacity in the stands.
• No guests could potentially be an option to allow for even more social distancing.

In-Line with other District Policies: Currently the School District is allowing contact sports, curbside pickups, and is resuming in person and indoor education. The safety standards that guide these District Policies can equally apply to a relatively even safer in-person Gradation.

Opt-In: Of course, the choice to participate in an in-person graduation this June will be up to each family and student to make on their own. This petition is not meant to pressure anyone who wouldn’t feel safe participating from doing so and is only meant to give the option to every student and allow each family to decide for themselves.

State Policy: We understand King County will need to move to Phase 3 by June to allow for outdoor gatherings larger than 200 people. We anticipate this should not be a problem being informed by the National timeline for all adults to have access to the vaccine by May 31. We hope the District can advocate with Seniors and their families who have already been urging Governor Inslee to approve a variance for outdoor graduation ceremonies this June in advance.

Significance: Graduations are a special and momentous occasion that this year’s Senior Class deserves to have. After missing out on so many traditions, it would be a significant loss to deprive this year’s Senior Class of this event when there is no scientifically backed reason to do so. While it may be easier to pursue a Graduation virtually, this Senior Class deserves an in-person graduation!

Please sign this petition if you agree and share it with any other Ballard Seniors and community stakeholders.

Respectfully,

The Ballard Senior Class Officers