Salazar-Zamora said Texas A&M notified the district that its contract to hold graduation ceremonies had been canceled. Many school districts and universities across the nation remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. TISD facilities are closed through April 10.
“I want to make clear that that was just the contract for graduation. That doesn’t mean that we will not have a graduation. However, for the date and time and location that you thought we were going to have graduation, we will not,” Salazar-Zamora said in the video.
During a special TISD board of trustees teleconference meeting March 23, Salazar-Zamora said graduation plans were unknown at that time. She said other district celebrations for seniors depend on when students are able to return to classes.
Salazar-Zamora also said during the March 23 teleconference that graduation ceremonies for Tomball and Tomball Memorial high school students could be held as late as the end of summer.
“It might be the old-school traditional graduation at our stadium; it might be something different than what we’ve had, and it may be far later. But I’m not against even trying to do something as late as summer or end of summer depending on the timing,” Salazar-Zamora said March 23. “And unfortunately we just don’t know what that timing’s going to look like.”
Salazar-Zamora also said the district was still working with state education leaders on what would be required for students to graduate during this unprecedented time.
“I do want you to know that we do plan to honor you and all of your 12 years of formal education in some way. We do plan to honor you through a graduation in the future, but unfortunately I cannot tell you when or where at this time,” she said in the video message March 25. “I understand that this news come with sadness, and I am so sorry that this pandemic event has changed your senior year in many ways."
