LAWSON – Area school districts are starting to settle on graduation dates, though uncertainty remains regarding how long COVID-19 will linger in Missouri.

Richmond School Board President Penny Vandiver said the district has a time and date in mind: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27.

“It is tentative,” she said. “But at least people can start planning tentatively, myself included.”

Vandiver’s daughter, Abby Vandiver, is a senior who plans to play softball for William Jewell University, Liberty.

“We are excited to have a plan in place for now and hope that it doesn’t change,” Penny Vandiver said.

At this point, two other area districts have set tentative commencement dates:

• Excelsior Springs, 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1; and

• Lawson, 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, with a backup date of Sunday, Aug. 2.