Old Rochester Regional High School plans a real, live, in-the-flesh commencement, albeit in a less-lengthy, make-shift format to ensure proper spacing and public safety. The target date is 10:00 am on Saturday, August 8, with a rain date of Sunday, August 9, at the football field.
Here’s the twist: The Class of 2020 will sit in the bleachers, and families will be spread out on the field.
“I will hand out diplomas in the rain if I have to,” said ORR Principal Mike Devoll during the May 27, remote-access meeting of the ORR School Committee. “I marveled that a lot of decisions have had to be made with no guidance and no history, and we feel like we made the right decisions… It should be about what makes the most sense for our kids and our community.”
Devoll didn’t want to let the academic year-end with senior grades, which were due last week, and then not see those students again, so in meeting with committee members Heather Burke and Joe Pires a list of activities and events has emerged. Citing Pires’ phrasing of “a slow drip of information,” Devoll said, “We should really keep (the graduating seniors) active in our school community.”
The slow drip of activities and events that will fall between now and commencement began on May 28 when graduating seniors visited the high school in drive-through fashion, spaced out according to homerooms, to return textbooks, pick up yearbooks and surprise gifts including a long-sleeve t-shirt decorated with the school-mascot Bulldog and “Quarantine” across the front.
Other upcoming graduation-related events include: a June 14 YouTube event in which scholarships will be announced; on June 15 students will discuss a life decision that helped them; a June 19 Senior Parade in which students will form a motorcade behind police escort to visit district elementary schools while Fun 107 radio broadcasts live and recorded voice messages from graduates to staff and classmates with all cavalcades converging back at the high school; and August 4 (if allowed) the Senior Prom. There will also be an awards night in person or in video.
Traditionally held at noon, the 10:00 am commencement will comply with state mandates against an indoor gathering and against tents and, at the same time, spare attendees the hottest part of the day. Capacity will be limited and tickets will be issued for admittance.
Pires told the committee, “This is also going to help our underclassmen.”
Chairperson Cary Humphrey suggested the event could begin a new tradition. “We want to celebrate these seniors like they’ve never been celebrated before because of what they’ve been through.”
Some colleges may open as early as August 10, but Devoll was pleased to inform the committee that student-athletes have been given permission by their college sports programs to come back for the August 8-9 weekend to participate in ORR’s commencement.
Four ORR students addressed the committee meeting to discuss their experiences with remote learning and offer feedback.
“It definitely made us realize how much we really took everything for granted,” said senior class vice president Cecilia “Ceci” Prefontaine. “Even though I enjoy going to school, we definitely have a greater appreciation for life… Besides that, I think our teachers have done a very good job with remote learning.”
“With this whole situation, we’re focusing the best that we can… I now know that we have been taking everything for granted… It is going okay, but it is so much better being in class,” said Autumn Tilly, who has been helping in an effort to make some slides of the seniors.
“I think that the way this school has handled online learning is the best that we could have done. It’s not perfect, but it’s a really good mix of synchronous and asynchronous (learning),” said Ally Ward. “We’re all dealing with the world and each of us has stressors… we try to communicate.”
Junior Eddie Gonet prepared a list “because the school has been doing so much for us students.” He noted the opportunity to learn about careers and new interests, the club hours where students can gain emotional support, the student council’s food bank supported by a Go Fund Me web campaign, seeing familiar faces at online yoga, and alumni presentations where students hear about the steps after high school and how ORR assists students after graduation. “I thank everyone, they’re doing the best they can and the best they can is the best around here,” said Gonet.
Prefontaine agreed with Gonet’s assessment that ORR is handling the ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic “well and better than some districts.”
ORR Junior High School Principal Silas Coellner reported that feedback led to the junior high making more frequent connections with students, offering more online live sessions via Zoom and Google Meet. “Now students have three opportunities a day and 25 opportunities a week,” he said.
Incoming (as of July 1) Superintendent of Schools Mike Nelson reported that ORR has offered to hold each Individual Education Plan meeting that should have been held and that there has been a 95 percent response rate.
“I know some school districts are going toward remote only; we’re keeping the door open for a hybrid model,” said Nelson of ORR’s summer outlook. “Things change each day, each week. Right now, the summer is a remote plan, but we’re staying ready to expand.”
Superintendent of Schools Doug White said that ORR District school offices are fully staffed with safe protocols and proper training in state guidelines. Buildings, however, are still not open to the public.
Nelson indicated that by mid-June superintendents will receive an update on the potential for a return to school in the fall.
“We’re working hand in hand with Gene Jones with (personal protective equipment). Doug and I meet weekly with union presidents from the districts,” said Nelson, who has been interacting with teachers and town officials regarding what a possible fall return to school would look like. “There are no details yet, but it’s on our minds each and every day.”
White cautioned the committee that, “We don’t know what the Board of Health in each community is going to say we can and cannot do.”
Debbie Dyson addressed the committee about a girl from Denmark who had planned to attend ORR in the fall. The committee voted to postpone the student’s arrival and all exchange programs to 2021, pending further developments relative to COVID-19.
Tony Rosselli was invited to discuss his ongoing audit of the ORR School District and addressed a few issues: ORR’s archaic phone system and its limitations in assisting police in the event of an intrusion; the uncertainty of Chapter 70 aid next year; four budget deficits including nearly $150,000 in athletics; along with the district’s falling bond rating.
The committee would later approve $29,100 in funding for a new phone system in the high school, junior high and central office. The quote was for $70,000, $41,000 of which would be canceled by a refund.
Rosselli also pointed out that ORR does not have a regional stabilization fund.
“I would like to see a capital stabilization fund. There are revenue stabilization funds (that act as circuit breakers if Chapter 70 is cut). Once those are established, you have a vehicle to put money away,” he explained. “They’re rainy-day funds… It’s pouring out. You folks don’t have that; you don’t have anything.”
After discussion, White said the matter will go onto the committee’s June 17 meeting agenda, along with a decision on the other capital-planning project, a net funding of $54,000 to upgrade auditorium lighting and safety rigging.
In other business, the committee approved Project Bread’s $3,000 donation for ORR’s nutrition program.
White reported that engineers have looked at three phases for the high school’s new football press box, which will include a handicapped-accessible elevator. All funding has been secured. Humphrey thanked Booster Club president Justin Shay for his work on the project.
The committee approved a 1/12 budget for FY21 that only comes into play should June 22 area town meetings not be held.
Along with some timely revisions to the high school student handbook, the committee approved additional funds for retirees beyond two to up to four individuals to receive early-retirement incentive packages.
Finally, Nelson reported having partnered with principals around the issue of cultural proficiency in a program called “Diversity Talks,” in which 700 participants in Grades 7-12 met online on May 27 and heard a student share her experience working through issues of racial tension, staff relations, and what Nelson called “non-negotiables,” adding that , “We’re committed to make (ORR) a place where all students feel comfortable.”
The ORR School Committee is scheduled to meet one more time before the town meetings on Wednesday, June 17.
ORR School Committee
By Mick Colageo