Graduation Practice May Have Exposed Students To COVID-19

The father of a Western Dubuque student says hundreds of Western Dubuque High School students were potentially exposed to COVID-19 while attending a graduation practice last month. Epworth resident Paul Silich is seeking more information about the practice after his son said he and others were kept in a hallway without enough space to practice social distancing. Silich has since filed a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board alleging that the Western Dubuque Community School District is delaying his request to obtain information related to the practice. Western Dubuque officials held graduation practice June 26th with the intent to host the ceremony on the school football field. Hours after the practice concluded, however, the district emailed parents that a student who attended the practice had tested positive for COVID-19 and that graduates would instead be invited to a drive-up ceremony. Students were originally supposed to practice outside, but a rainstorm prompted school officials to bring them into the hallway, making it difficult to socially distance.