Fairbanks Local School District will hold a drivethrough graduation with hopes of an in-person celebration in the future.
“In the short term, we want to continue to provide recognition for the work and the gratitude that we have to the class of 2020,” Superintendent Adham Schirg said. “And then as we move forward together, we will find a way to bring this group together to celebrate all of your collective and individual accomplishments.”
The superintendent said he appreciated the patience, input and feedback of students, families and the community.
“The whole process has been a very difficult one for so many districts, their teachers and their students,” Schirg said. “My heart goes out to our seniors. I am so thankful for them and proud of them. They have been here for years and made individual and group contributions that we are not going to be able to recognize all together, at least not for a while.”
As part of the announcement Wednesday, Schirg explained the district will hold a “drive-thru” graduation in the morning and early afternoon of May 23 at the high school football stadium.
Graduates will be able to get out of their vehicle, hear their name read, and receive their diploma. A professional photographer take a photograph at the end of the stage. Family members will be able to watch the student graduate from their vehicle.
“It was very important based on the feedback we received to find a way to allow families to see their graduate walk across the stage, hear their name read and receive their diploma,” Schirg wrote in a letter to graduates and families.
At 7 p.m., graduation day, the district will post a virtual graduation video featuring school official comments, student speeches, individual recognition, tassel turning and other traditional commencement ceremony components.
“Following that will also be our senior recognition that will honor the awards and scholarships that this senior class has earned,” Schirg said.
He said that will not be the end of the honors for the Class of 2020. He said the district wants students to be able to celebrate together, but recognizes they “just can’t do that right now.”
“We are committed to bringing the Class of 2020 together at a future date to celebrate their contributions, both individually and collectively, to Fairbanks Local Schools,” Schirg said.
Officials said they would work with health officials and class representatives for the in-person event, but at this point, “there is no way to predict a date.”
Schirg said district officials know this is not an ideal solution and know students and families deserve more to honor after “all that they have accomplished over the last 13 years.”
“Graduation is a culmination of years of hard work and an important moment to honor and recognize these amazing students.” Schirg said. “We want to do the absolute best that we can for these students as they finish their high school career.”
He said it is a “delicate balance” to recognize the graduates and to protect the graduates and the community.
“We recognize this is not how any of us envisioned this day at the start of this school year,” Schirg wrote. “However, in partnership with the Union County Health Department, this is something at this time we are able to conduct. We look forward to a time in the future where we will all be together to celebrate the Class of 2020.”