Azle city officials defend decision to shut down high school graduation parade
A group of parents with graduating seniors from Azle High School planned to honor the 2020 class by throwing a parade down the city’s Main Street later this month.
As one parent, Tabitha Vanrachack, said, “These seniors have already missed out on so much this year. This would be a great way to honor them.”
A Facebook post earlier this week touted the parade as being accompanied by the city’s mayor, fire department and police department. However, the idea has since been shut down by Azle’s police chief Rick Pippins and city manager Tom Muir.
Both do not see how the parade can be conducted in a safe manner on short notice, particularly amid the coronavirus pandemic. And both said neither the city, nor the police department, had approved the parade scheduled for May 28, as the organizers believed.
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“We have parades in Azle, just like a lot of different places,” Pippins said. “Parades are a point of pride and most people go to them and think, ‘Well, that went off easily.’ The reason these things look simple a lot of times is because of the weeks, and sometimes months, of planning that go into them.
“I cannot approve this. Social distancing aside, which is still very much a significant issue, we do not, nor does any other professional police manager, throw these things together at the last moment. It’s a matter of public safety.”
Pippins went on to say that Main Street is technically a state highway, which creates traffic issues and closures/ diversions during parades that may require state permission.
Muir echoed those concerns, as well as the pandemic protocols that encourage social distancing and limiting mass gatherings. Azle’s graduating class has approximately 450 students.
“Can we plan a parade in two weeks? Yes, but not with the conditions the entire state and community are under,” Muir said. “That is not promoting safety in the community. Whether they think COVID-19 is legitimate or not, we don’t have that luxury. We need to be safe. The better thing to do is be cautious.”
Muir also pointed to the Azle seniors having a graduation ceremony at new Globe Life Field in Arlington later this month. He believes that should help soften the blow for everything the students have missed out on during the pandemic crisis.
“The school district is doing a great thing with the in-person graduation at the new ballpark,” Muir said. “That’s a much bigger deal than what they’ve been doing and there’s something to be said for that. We bend over backwards to help community events, but there’s just too many issues with a parade. It’s just not safe.”
For the Azle parents, the graduation at Globe Life Field is a nice gesture but there will be a limited number of guests who can attend. They were viewing the parade as an avenue to allow those who can’t attend the graduation to honor the seniors.
And they believe those attending the parade can maintain recommended social distancing measures.
“I don’t see how social distancing is even remotely an issue,” Vanrachack said. “The flyer we sent out specifically asked parade attendees to stay in their cars and follow social distancing guidelines. If someone feels they’re going to be exposed to COVID-19, then they don’t have to come. The town is rallying behind us ... minus two people. Main Street is not owned by Chief Pippins and Tom Muir. We have the right to have this parade and have a stance.”
For Pippins and Muir, being the “bad guy” comes with the job at times. Both made it clear they care about the high school seniors and empathize with what’s been canceled amid the pandemic.
But they aren’t inclined to bend the rules when it comes to something of this nature during a public health crisis.
“My daughter recently graduated, I love the district and I really care a lot about the kids,” Pippins said. “If there’s anything I can do for them, I would. But I can’t do this. I can’t allow them to endanger themselves, nor can I allow anyone else to endanger them.”
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 5:59 PM.
