DeKalb moves commencements from religious settings

DECATUR (AP) - None of the DeKalb County school system's commencement ceremonies will take place in places of worship this year in response to parent complaints.

The ceremonies will instead be hosted at secular venues or outdoor stadiums. The district decided to move about 12 ceremonies from religious venues in response to parents complaining about the public schools holding graduation ceremonies in religious settings.

Other parents have spoken out against the move. They say holding the ceremonies at secular venues has translated to higher costs for hosting the events, and less than ideal facilities with visual barriers and bad acoustics.

Schools superintendent Michael Thurmond says DeKalb schools could look to once again hold ceremonies in places of worship if religious symbols are not visible.