SHELBY — As the current school year comes to a close, the question on many high school seniors’ minds turns to graduation: Will a ceremony be possible during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Shelby Supt. Tim Tarvin reported to the Board of Education on Monday that a commencement committee is in place and “considering all options for graduation.”
Tarvin estimated that between 140 to 150 seniors would be graduating from Shelby High School on May 24.
“We may not limit it to one event – a car parade, a blend of live participation, videotape and virtual,” Tarvin said. “We’ve tasked this committee with being creative and open-minded.
“Obviously it’s already been a memorable school year for them, but we need to make something memorable that’s a celebration.”
The next meeting of the commencement committee is Tuesday, April 28.
After Gov. Mike DeWine announced on April 20 that remote learning would continue for all students through the end of the school year, the Ohio Department of Education on April 23 discouraged schools from conducting graduation ceremonies and other year-end events.
“While we understand the significance, tradition and rites of passage many of these events represent, particularly for our seniors, schools should hold events virtually rather than conducting in-person events of this type, and record these events whenever possible and practicable,” the department stated.
“Congregate graduation ceremonies should not be held. Additionally, we recommend holding a virtual or alternate recognition on the original intended graduation date or a date very close to that date.”
In the meantime, the district has already set its sights on the 2020-2021 school year as it prepares for the possibility of continued COVID-19 precautions.
DeWine said April 20 that a combination of distance and in-person learning is a possibility, noting he would allow a great deal of flexibility between districts notwithstanding other factors. He added children with special developmental needs, health challenges, limited internet access, and an unstable home life are also a priority.
Tarvin said Monday it seemed highly likely that Shelby City Schools would be in a “blended learning” setting this fall, combining online and in-person teaching.
“I hate to even speculate in April what September is going to look like,” Tarvin said. “We don’t know what we don’t know at this point…but we don’t want to be the school district that gets to August and never saw it coming. We’re going to lay as much groundwork today as we possibly can.”
Tarvin also commended parents, grandparents, teachers and many members of the Shelby community who have stepped up to support the school district during these difficult times. He noted remote learning can be very labor-intensive, as many parents and teachers now recognize.
“We are going to work diligently so parents know we are going to provide them with excellent education opportunities, whether it’s brick-and-mortar or online,” he said. “We’re going to create educational pathways for our kids to help them be successful.”
The future of Shelby City Schools is also moving “full steam ahead” as plans for the new pre-K through 8th grade building continue. Tarvin presented the first floor schematic design to the board on Monday, with a floor plan of approximately 150,000 square feet.
“It’s quite a bit bigger than the 9-12 building, but it will house twice as many students,” Tarvin said.
The groundbreaking for the new building will hopefully be held in the fall.
In June 2019 the Shelby Board of Education financially authorized the “construction, furnishing and equipping of school facilities” for pre-K though 8th grade students that will hopefully be finished by August of 2022 at zero cost to Shelby taxpayers.
Through a financial package from the district, plus Rover Pipeline revenue, Shelby City Schools is able to contribute $19.3 million towards the total needed to build a new facility. The other part of the building will be paid for through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) Classroom Facilities Assistance Program.
