The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Could See First "virtual" graduation - An actual gathering could come later
By: Joy Swearingen - for The Quill
At a virtual meeting via Zoom, the Illini West High School board discussed the need for a "virtual" graduation for their seniors.
At the meeting April 15, Principal Scott Schneider said, along with a virtual graduation, he wants some kind of actual graduation ceremony at a later date, but is not sure when that will be.
"I suggest we do a virtual graduation now. It is very doable. If we had kids to give speeches, they can be recorded. We put it all together, and have it on the same day we would have had the normal graduation (May 17)," Schneider said. Photos of each graduate would be featured.
The actual graduation would be postponed with some kind of in-person event "down the road".
"I think just having a virtual event is robbing them and the parents of that moment."
Superintendent Kim Schilson said the state is leaving the decision on graduating seniors up to the schools.
"My idea is, once we hit May 1, we say, "Seniors if you are happy where your grade is for the semester, you can be done.' If they still need to make improvements they can continue to work."
She said the board may want to consider only requiring seniors to meet minimum state standards for graduation, which are lower than Illini West graduation requirements.
"My recommendation is, if you are a senior and you've had to suffer through COVID 19 with the rest of the world, we graduate you. I don't want to affect the rest of their lives because they had this happen to them," Schilson said. "This is a crazy time. Kids out six months, are they going to come back next fall to make up one or two credits, or are they just going to be a drop-out?" She noted some students depend on credits in the last semester to graduate.
Schneider said his staff has been working on details for a similar virtual awards night and scholarship presentation on May 6.
The remote learning plan that teachers are using for the remainder of the school year was approved.
The plan outlines the expectations for student engagement (attendance) and completion of work, as well as availability of teachers and activities provided. Assignments are made through email or packets given to students.
Schilson noted there can be no educational harm to any student finishing the year remotely. No F grades will be given, however students who are unable or choose not to participate will be given an incomplete. The transition team will develop a plan on how to make up remote learning work.
There are scheduled on-line class periods for each day. Regular teacher planning days on remote learning are scheduled through the rest of the year.
Schilson praised the efforts of the teachers and students so far in making this plan work.
"It is unbelievable how one day you are in the regular, traditional class, and the next day you are teaching all on line. So a big hats off to our teachers," she said. She praised the administrators for setting up the plan and support staff for taking on new roles such as delivering meals and packets, to make the plan work.
Schilson thanked Chris Greenhalge, technology coordinator, for his efforts in setting up the remote learning systems and finding "hot spots" for students around the district who do not have internet service at home.
"Think of this. You have kids who take the Googlebook we have given them, and go to a parking lot in their car to do their assignments. Talk about tough."
Schneider said that out of 320 some students, only two have not checked in or been contacted. He and Jim Short worked to contact all students with the new system.
Two support staff employees were given reduction in force notice. These were Brandi Simmons, paraprofessional/teachers aide, and Robbie Middle, study hall monitor.
Appointments were approved for the following coaches:
Grant Surprenant, head girls basketball coach; Steven Patrick and Makala Gronewold, assistant girls basketball coach; Justin Ellison, head boys basketball coach; Tim Lafferty and Matt Zahringer, assistant boys basketball coaches; Lyle Klein, head wrestling coach; Tyler Schilson, assistant wrestling coach; Ashtyn St. Clair Miller and Amanda Lewis, co-head cheerleading coaches; Ashley Burling, head coach of dance; Michael Lafferty and Dakota Lafferty, co-head coaches weight room.
In other business, the board: