As of May 7th, 2020 , Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has made the decision to have a virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 seniors due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The task force took suggestions from the public and in no shape or form were these suggestions implemented. The class of 2020 has worked extremely hard and have experienced an abrupt devastating cut to their last year of school. The decision made by the task force was very effortless and the seniors deserve to have something bigger and better. We are making this petition to hopefully get the attention of CMS to reconsider another alternative graduation.

A Parents Response: 

Due to COVID-19, seniors in the class of 2020 will be unable to walk for their traditional graduation.

Class of 2020 seniors and parents, Charlotte Mecklenburg School system has given our seniors only 3 options which all are recorded virtual graduation with the only difference is to pick up diploma drive thru at their school or them being mailed.

These options sadden us and our seniors due to the fact neighboring county are giving their seniors a drive thru graduation at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Though this option is not really what we want, but its better than what our seniors in Charlotte Mecklenburg school had to vote one.

We want better options of non- virtual (pre-recorded options).

1. We have the Panther's Stadium that will accommodate social distancing per school.(mask worn at all times)

2. Drive thru option at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

3.Each graduation held at its school on the football field and limit guest and enforce mask to be worn at all times.

4. Traditional Graduation in July.

Our seniors deserve better and the task force was more CMS staff vs parents and seniors. Our kids deserve better memories than drive thur to pick up diplomas and pictures of them as their name is called as virtual option(recored and stream on various platforms). Our seniors deserve better. Please sign this petition to give the Class of 2020 seniors of Charlotte Mecklenburg school system a better graduation option other than what options were giving via senior survey. They have missed out on so much already senior prom, senior trip, senior awards day, senior decision day with their peers, memories with their peers, and now a tradition graduation.