UPDATE: LPSS issued a statement that adjustments would be made and an announcement about the future of the event is to come. The district says it will happen this week.

The Lafayette Parish School System was informed this afternoon that graduation ceremonies planned for this week can no longer be held at the Cajundome. While this news is disappointing, district staff is working on an alternative plan to celebrate our graduating seniors. The commencement ceremonies will still take place this week and an updated plan will be released as soon as the details are finalized.

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This year has had its share of ups and downs, but for Lafayette Parish students graduating from public high schools today, there hopes of normalcy with graduation in the Cajundome have been dashed.

KPEL news has learned that the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has sent notification to the Cajundome that due to restrictions associated with Covid-19, that the event will not be allowed to proceed.

The graduations were set to take place at the Cajundome starting this Thursday, July 9th and going through July 11th.

All the Lafayette Parish public high schools were set to have graduation with a social distancing plan and other safeguards in place for the ceremonies.

Previously, the Lafayette Parish School System said in earlier a press release, that should the ceremonies not be allowed, they would switch to virtual ceremonies.

But, the big question is, what will happen now? Will graduation be cancelled, or will school system officials switch to a virtual ceremony? Also, the plan was devised to include temperature checks and other safety measures to ensure that safety would be a priority. At this time, no in-person graduations will happen this week at the Cajundome.

There will be a meeting of the Lafayette Parish School Board tomorrow night to talk about this issue.

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