Local schools work on graduation plans

With the remainder of the school year now canceled in both Michigan and Wisconsin due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, area seniors and their families await information on what the new plan for their graduation ceremonies will be.

Although many of the area’s school districts are still developing graduation plans, the local superintendents expressed a desire to honor their graduating seniors in some way -- even if the final form is still unclear.

“We’re trying to figure out ways to help honor and recognize our seniors for their hard work and celebrate to the degree we can in this totally new landscape that we’re in,” Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell said.

Although much of Ironwood’s plan remains up in the air, Powell said the district has tentatively scheduled graduation for 6 p.m. on July 17.

Even with the ceremony pushed back into the summer, Powell said it was unlikely the event would be exactly like past years -- but added the district would try to continue to honor its history and traditions as much as possible given the circumstances.

“I know it’s going to be disruptive, there’s no way we could possibly have graduation that’s going to look like what people are used to in this environment and have it happen in this year,” Powell said. “It’s very likely that we will try to figure out some way to utilize an outdoor venue -- but again, those are all details we haven’t got hammered out, we just needed to pick a date.”

Hurley Superintendent Kevin Genisot said that for now, the district’s ceremony is still scheduled for May 23. He said the details of the ceremony are still being worked out, but that he hoped to announce more information in the coming weeks.

“The Hurley School District is committed to providing the graduation experience all seniors are looking forward to.  Plans will continue to evolve for the next three weeks and when all plans are finalized, it will be announced,” Genisot said. “The graduation date still hasn’t changed, only the experience will be different.”

Bessemer Area Schools Interim Superintendent Dan Niemi said the district was still figuring out its graduation plans but hoped for something sometime in July. He also mentioned the possibility of incorporating the ceremony into the city’s Fourth of July celebrations in some way, assuming those still happen.

Wakefield-Marenisco is tentatively planning to have its graduation ceremony July 10, according to Superintendent Jason Gustafson, assuming restrictions on gatherings are lifted by then. He said he reached out to the district’s seniors to see what their thoughts were and the July date was based on their feedback.

Staff with the Mercer Schools said it was still working out the details of its graduation, but that a graduation was still expected to happen.

Ewen-Trout Creek Superintendent Dave Radovich said the district was still in the planning stage for graduation and its other spring events, such as prom and its academic and sports awards ceremonies. The events will likely be pushed into July and August, according to Radovich, and some may even be held virtually if restrictions on gatherings are still in place over the summer.

Watersmeet principal George Peterson said they’re waiting to hear when they can have such a gathering.

“We’re going to let the seniors and their parents help us decide what we’ll do, when we’ll do it,” Peterson said. With just three seniors in the class of 2020, “it’s going to be pretty personal. But for now, we’re waiting like everybody else.”

There are no firm plans for a graduation ceremony in Ontonagon either, according to superintendent-principal Jim Bobula. “We considering our options and waiting.”