The Alhambra Unified School District and the Alhambra Police Department on Wednesday announced protocols for the only approved drive-up graduation events for seniors at the five AUSD high schools and, also, for 8th grade students.

The events, hosted by AUSD, begin June 4 and will continue through June 19. The protocols for vehicle-based parades, issued by L.A. County, are firm and, according to a press release from the district and the City of Alhambra, include:

1. Occupants in each vehicle must be from the same household. Everyone in the respective vehicles must remain inside at all time with seat belts fastened during the event.
2. AUSD staff members will hand students the diplomas through vehicle windows at designated times. Bicycles and motorcycles will not be permitted in the car parades.
3. All car parades or dive-through events are limited to 20 vehicles and must have security or local law enforcement present to address traffic and safety issues. While APD is collaborating with AUSD on the graduation ceremonies it will not be participating in any independent car parades.
4. Families will receive notification of the only approved drive-through events from school personnel. Schools will establish windows of time from families to come and pick up diplomas.

Messaging from individual schools underscored the complexity of managing the events. Emery Park Elementary School, for instance, offers a video detailing graduation plans on its website. Other AUSD schools have similar links to directions on their sites.

Failure to meet these guidelines may result in the cancellation of the entire drive-up graduation program and, possibly, other graduation events. Monterey Park and the other cities in AUSD will also be following the county guidelines.

A statement from AUSD Superintendent Denise R. Jaramillo underscored the importance of compliance with the L.A. County Office of Education and L..A. County Department of Public Health guidelines during this and other virtual graduation events.

“We understand families want to get out, hug their children and take pictures of this special occasion,” Jaramillo said. “But that’s not allowed under the guidelines. It’s important to follow the protocols because failure to do so will lead to cancellation of these and subsequent graduation events.”