High schools plan graduation ceremonies through uncertainty of a pandemic

It’s a challenge to stay optimistic, but Lauren Michaels, 18, is doing her best.

The Kiski Area High School senior was disappointed when she learned schools would not reopen this academic school year. She doesn’t mind finishing her courses online, but the prospect of missing out on certain year-end rites of passage — like prom and graduation — is disheartening.

Michaels is a member of Kiski Area’s senior committee, a group of students who have taken on leadership roles in their class. In the past several weeks, the group has had regular virtual meetings with school administrators trying to sort out plans for the annual gatherings. They also respond to classmates’ questions.

The committee sent out a Google Form to the senior class of 250, inviting them to send inquiries. Michaels said the most frequently asked questions are related to prom and graduation — will they be canceled?

Michaels and the school’s administrators don’t have a concrete answer for them. Amid the covid-19 crisis, as health guidelines and restrictions in public places are updated daily, planning for the future seems a laughable concept. By the same logic, many area high schools are still unsure how they will commemorate the milestone of completing 12th grade.

The state’s Department of Education has left planning graduation ceremonies up to individual high schools. In a conference call with reporters last week, Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said schools should focus on ensuring seniors have the necessary tools to complete high school — whether or not there is a physical ceremony in the end.

“School districts can do that as long as they adhere to whatever at that time the governor and the secretary of health’s guidance is going to be around social distancing,” Rivera said.

At Kiski Area, Principal Chad Roland said the committee isn’t making any decisions, yet.

“Who knows what the regulations and guidelines are going to be?” he said.

The school is still holding out hope there can be physical gatherings for prom and graduation, and the committee is considering “creative” possibilities for pulling that off if there are still restrictions on the number of people allowed to gather.

“We’re committed to making sure the Class of 2020 is recognized in a way that’s appropriate for them and what they deserve,” Roland said.

Some area schools are moving forward with dates and plans, including Penn-Trafford, Baldwin-Whitehall and Hampton. At Pittsburgh Public Schools, Chief of School Performance David May-Stein said a committee is planning a virtual graduation for the district’s seven high schools.

“It’s very upsetting for kids that were expecting to have commencements at the end of the year,” May-Stein said in a video conference call with reporters Wednesday. “So we’re working with the principals, other central office staff and school-based activity directors so that we’re able to provide an amazing virtual experience that will highlight who our high school seniors are and what their stories are as they get ready for the next step.”

Others are still weighing their options. Allegheny Valley School District is involving students in the discussion process. The district held two meetings this week with teachers, administrators and Springdale High School’s senior class of 65 students.

“What was really important to us was to hear our kids’ voices,” said Principal Andrew Leviski.

The students pitched several ideas, such as a parade through town and a drive-in graduation. But in the end, the majority favored a traditional commencement ceremony, he said. The school is hoping to arrange an event either inside or spread out across the football field, even if they have to wait until later in the summer.

Meanwhile, Springdale is “back to the drawing board” on prom plans. The dance had been scheduled for early May, and then rescheduled for later in the month at the University Club on the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland. When the club canceled all events for the month, Springdale’s prom was among the casualties.

The school has several other year-end events that are also up in the air, including a banquet for honors students and an assembly recognizing scholarship winners. Leviski said he is just hoping students and teachers can learn something through all the uncertainty.

“I keep telling my teachers, as well as our kids and families, we have to find the silver lining in all this,” Leviski said.

Throughout the region, most schools have refrained from announcing final decisions. They are still waiting to see if restrictions on social gatherings will be lifted before their event dates arrive.

“That is definitely something that we are having discussions about,” said Bonnie Berzonski, coordinator of communications for Fox Chapel Area schools. “Right now, no definitive decisions have been made about alternative plans, but that will be coming.”

Tiffany Nix, superintendent of Leechburg Area School District, said she is hoping to proceed with both events as usual, assuming limits on large gatherings are lifted by June. Prom is tentatively scheduled for June 10, and a graduation date will be set for some time in June. If not, both events will be rescheduled, Nix said.

Michaels said she was glad Kiski Area was waiting to set final plans — it’s better than continually rescheduling or canceling altogether, she said.

“We want this to be normal, but we’re also recognizing this isn’t a school thing,” Michaels said. “This is a pandemic and we can’t really mess with the laws.”

The state last week officially closed schools for the remainder of the academic year, to little surprise to educators. Area colleges and universities, also closed for the foreseeable future, have postponed, canceled or gone virtual with their commencement ceremonies.