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Despite the cancellation of mass gatherings for now because of the COVID-19 pandemic and regional shelter-in-place order, the Pleasanton Unified School District is determined to find a way for graduating seniors to walk the stage and celebrate the class of 2020 with the potential of technology, guidance from Alameda County public health officials–and some creative thinking.
The Pleasanton school board explored alternative graduation options for this year’s crop of high school seniors at an online meeting on Wednesday night, noting that a traditional graduation ceremony is not possible this year during the ongoing health crisis.
In late March, shortly after the Board of Trustees announced districtwide dismissals and the switch to distance learning, PUSD distributed a survey regarding alternative graduation ceremonies “to determine possible options and gain input from stakeholders;” a total of 1,061 senior students, parents and guardians responded. In lieu of a traditional graduation, 47.6% said they preferred postponing the ceremony, 40.3% chose going virtual and 12.1% supported cancellation.
The district also consulted with students at both Amador Valley and Foothill high schools for input like student board member Derek Dressler, who said he appreciates the hard work being done to make sure that seniors are recognized for their hard work but, “I think there really is no substitute for an in-person graduation, and I completely agree that a virtual one is the best course of action at this time.”
Virtual ceremonies are being planned for both schools on May 29; according to a district report, staff is “exploring various vendors and options at this time that will create a virtual ceremony including speeches, conferring of diplomas, and other aspects of a live graduation ceremony.” One marketing company gave a quote for both comprehensive sites for approximately $13,000.
Village High is also planning their own virtual ceremony for May 27, but will use a platform like Zoom or Google Meet instead, due to the smaller number of graduates. The alternative high school will also follow a timeline similar to Foothill and Amador for cap and gown distribution.
Walking across the stage to receive their diploma might not be off the table for this year’s graduates. When it comes to celebrating this year’s seniors, Janelle Woodward, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, said, “We are open to all ideas right now.”
One idea proposed would involve setting up a “drive-thru” at both comprehensive high schools, where students and families could pick up their diplomas on a staggered schedule by last name on May 30. Both campuses would have a “stage” and school image backdrop set up for a photo opportunity as students grab their diplomas before getting back in their car and leaving. Foothill Principal Sebastian Bull said, “It will celebrate our seniors in a very different format, but at least it’s a way to recognize the moment, even if it’s not the actual moment.”
Social distancing guidelines would need to be communicated and PUSD would need to vet the plan with the Pleasanton Police Department for support or approval, and all plans would be subject to change based on guidance from the Alameda County Public Health Department.
Options like reconvening in fall or winter when students come home from college or possibly participating in the holiday parade were also discussed. Trustee Valerie Arkin said that a parent recently suggested a dedicated parade for the senior class, which Trustee Jamie Yee expanded on with an idea for a route along roads like Hopyard and Santa Rita that would allow residents to maintain social distancing easier instead of more crowded corridors like downtown on Main Street.
“Could we maybe have a firework display on the night of the graduation? It seems like something that could be done with social distancing,” said Trustee Joan Laursen, who was told the district is already engaged in a discussion with the city about the idea.
The district will continue to explore their options and announce their decision in the near future.
An overview of other impacts from the coronavirus crisis and the district’s response so far was featured immediately beforehand that evening. In a 23-page report, the district outlined its top three areas of focus during the pandemic: 1. Student Learning and Social/Emotional Well-Being, 2. Professional Development and Support, and 3. Evaluation of Student Work. To that extent, PUSD has continued to provide students with take-away meals and distance learning, and noted the state’s role in funding “to support the following activities during the period of closure.”
Administration noted that staff is still looking for ways to evaluate student learning and that basic functions are taking place for the student services division, including concerted efforts to reach out to parents even with remote distance learning. Laursen commended everyone for “working really hard to make the best of a bad situation.”
“We may not be working in a hospital, we may not be on the frontlines as a peace officer but we take our roles very seriously,” she said. “We consider public education an essential service and continuing the work and supporting our students and our teachers who are doing this.”
The comprehensive report also included updates on facilities, construction, nutrition services, special education and virtual professional development opportunities, in addition to diving into how the district has helped to supervise and provide on-site education for the students of essential workers who are unable to work remotely. Ahmad Sheikholeslami, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, said some construction bids were conducted using webcams for walk-thrus with contractors to comply with social distancing.
The Board also heard about budget preparation for the 2020-21 school year and the “preparation of potential reductions of revenue due to impacts of COVID-19.” Sheikholeslami said the requirement to cancel facility rentals due to the shelter-in-place order is impacting summer programs, with one program recently falling through. The district is considering applying for grant support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with the lost revenue.
According to the report, the federal Department of Education (DOE) recently granted a waiver to the California Department of Education (CDE) to suspend all statewide testing for the 2019-20 school year. Among the tests included are the Smarter Balanced Assessments including CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress), CAA (California Alternate Assessment and CAST (California Science Test), Summative ELPAC (English Learner Proficiency Assessment in California) and PFT (Physical Fitness Test).
In anticipation of students eventually returning to class, the Board reviewed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s initial plans for the reopening of schools throughout California and considerations for summer school and an extended school year.
Some key points highlighted in the district’s planning of a “gradual, planned and safe return to school” are prioritizing students groups like elementary and special education students, implementing social distancing norms in large group settings such as gym class, recess and lunchtime, and “highly monitored school cleaning protocol.”
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We all have to sacrifice at this unprecedented time. Great opportunity for these students to show their civic pride while learning about service, self-sacrifice and humility. Simply have the “ceremony” on line and move on. They will learn early in their lives that the most satisfaction and recognition is self-generated. Get over it parents, the world does not revolve around little Johnny or Janie.
I know the students must be disappointed to see their High School life end so suddenly and differently then what they were expecting and looking forward to. It is a major milestone in their lives. I think anything we can do as a community to celebrate their achievement would be wonderful. The drive-thru sounds a bit at odds with current restrictions but I will leave that to the board. We could arrange a date and time when everyone could step out their front doors and applaud and give them a cheer. It might raise quite a din!
Just a note—the survey sent out didn’t even have an option to delay the ceremony. We had to write that in under “other.” If there had actually been an option for a delayed ceremony, not just a write-in, I’m sure it would have gotten a greater percent of the vote. We really want a delayed ceremony.
Also, has there been any consideration a socially distanced ceremony? Limit it to students and parents(or 2 other guests) and space seats 6 feet apart all over the football field.
ATTENTION: PUSD Board.
The above comment by AV Senior is recommended reading!
This is the kind of thing that makes me nuts about the administration and the board members. No one else thought to suggest a delayed graduation? How could that not have been a choice? Why does it take a student and write ins to get that idea across? Is the governance team going to be too busy this summer to accommodate these students for a few hours? Certainly some distancing and masks should be sufficient if the stay in place is eased in June or July. Or what if it is only students in caps and gowns and a walk across the stage with distance and masks and it is filmed so parents can celebrate with the student at home? Accepting that there will be guidance from other agencies, it seems if we aren’t creative and don’t ask, we won’t get much.
Let’s make sure we all note the inability of the board to adapt to our new reality.
Pretty disappointing they did not include the delay option.
Poor level of creativity and demonstrating the inability to think outside the box.
They better up their game and start figuring out what they are going to do when regular flu season arrives this fall with the high probability of Covid-19 making an encore.
It’s not right that the Class of 2021 go through the same learning challenges as the Class of 2020. Nor the same lack of creativity and adaptability.
Does our school board have the abilities our parents and students need and in fact should demand? That we should all demand?
A previous Board member took a lot of heat a few years back for not having a child currently in PUSD, all graduated. Seems to be a current requirement for most in PUSD leadership without much expressed community concern. May be a reason that such student concerns are not recognized in planning.
Speeches on Zoom . . . Car parade from AVHS down Main? . . . Pick up diploma at Library . . .Fireworks to follow? Sounds fun to me. Lots of community could come out to show support – 6ft apart of course.
Why is a virtual ceremony $13,000?!?!
Whh, I believe the only children in the system are grandkids of Steve Maher.
Bird, then the students can’t interact from six feet apart. There are probably 1100 students among the three schools. That’s a lot of cars. And there are at least a few without a license or a car. It does sound fun, and maybe we let each school’s seniors vote on a couple options?
Standing 6 ft apart while wearing caps, gowns, masks, and sneakers on the field means the students can wave and yell and walk a “stage” when called? Assuming masks and 6 ft will still be a thing. Fireworks too, but they’d be the biggest expense.
Car parades, fireworks???
Green New Deal and Global Warming???
Isn’t this supposed to be a group of environmentally responsible students???
I guess only when “convenient “
In response to Rich Serrano, my grandson graduated from Scotts Valley High School last year with honors. As a grandmother I would have been CRUSHED if I had not been able to witness him collect his diploma. I had tears in my eyes as the music played and I watched him and fellow graduates file up towards the stage. I could not believe that this little baby that I had watched as he was being born is now a handsome, smart 6 foot tall young man! It had nothing to do with pleasing “Little Johnny,” it had to do with pleasing ol’ Granny!!!
See the following:
The facts,
– Covid19 is a unique virus and will be a fatal to a select few until we have a vaccine,
– 95% of those known to have contracted it, either have no symptoms or mild symptoms,
– it attacks the lungs, so it’s particularly fatal to those with known or unknown respiratory, and cardiovascular issues,
– the mortality rate increases exponentially with age.
But the two most important facts to get your head around are:
– CHILDREN ARE BULLETPROOF. Not only do they essentially not contract it, but if they do contract it, the mortality rate is .002%.
And finally,
– HALF OF ALL DEATHS ARE IN CARE HOME.
Here’s the evidence:
Covid19 deaths in Italy, through April 22 by age. 22,000 deaths, but only 2 are under 19, and only 56 are under 39!!!
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1105061/coronavirus-deaths-by-region-in-italy/
Care home deaths, Europe…
https://thehill.com/policy/international/494255-who-as-many-as-half-of-european-coronavirus-deaths-in-nursing-homes
NYC through April 16. There have been 6,869 Covid19 deaths. Of those deaths, only 3 were under 17 and all had underlying issues. And for the 18- 44 age group, there have been 306 deaths. And 80% of those had known underlying health issues.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
In summary, as far as Covid19 is concerned, since very few children are born with any serious respiratory issues ( only about 1 in 5000 ) they are bulletproof. For everyone else, since respiratory, cardiovascular and other issues increase with age and lifestyle, the older you get the more fatal Covid19 is. Finally, most, if not all folks in care homes have respiratory and other health issues and are at risk from ANY viral infection, let alone this one.
What you should be asking now is why you don’t know this!!
So, let’s consider the statistics. 25% of the population is under 18, and are bulletproof. Of the remaining 75%, since 95% will have mild conditions, only 5% are at risk. That’s only 3.75% of the total population. But since 1 percentage point of that 3.75% ( 27% ) are in care homes, and by definition quarantined already, as a society we only need 2.75% of the population to be additionally quarantined.
However, what are we doing?? We’re quarantining just about EVERYBODY, including the bulletproof children. Yet, despite all that, half of all deaths are folks already quarantined. How that makes any rational sense boggles the mind. It’s actually irrational.
So let’s now talk about the other virus, the economic one. As a result of this irrational response, the economic damage is literally historic. Never in human history has trade and business ever STOPPED completely. Never in wartime, revolutions, the global financial crisis, nor the great depression. In San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is deserted, that has NEVER happened, not since it began in 1849. It will be on life support until the tourists return in droves, 2022??
Economists are scratching their heads. Is this way worse than 2008? Absolutely. They all agree on that. So what does that mean to you and your 401K. Well during the 2007-8 financial crisis, the Dow 30, dropped 50%. From top to bottom, to back again took 9 years!!! So, if it’s worse than that, the Dow could drop by 66%. Consequently if you think your 401K looks bad now….wait another 18 months. And bounce back??? Dreams!!! Never has there been a bounce back in the history of time. It’s not a bounce, it’s called a recovery, and recoveries takes years. In this case it could be 12. Today, millions and millions of Americans are out of work. Millions of families are anxious about their economic future, and those of their children. And if you think the government can fix the crisis it’s created, think again. It’s trying and will keep trying. But the Fed is panicked. Every business, every institution is looking for a bail out. And we’ve just started.
And some of the things we’re doing are just not well thought out. Send out stimulus checks. Sounds good, but 63 million of them are going to people on social security anyway. Of those, 53 million are over 70, not working, and by definition most at risk. What do they want to do with that new found money?? They’d like to take a cruise or a vacation. Wow good luck with that!!! Consequently, not much of a stimulus with those checks. That money is gonna stay in their bank accounts.
Basically, we are literally sacrificing our children whose lives are BEFORE them, to protect folks whose lives are largely BEHIND them. How is that rational? NEVER has any animal species sacrificed its young to protect it’s old. It’s bizarre, it’s absurd. So why are we tolerating it? Why are we allowing politicians to hide behind virologists. Folks who have no clue about the economic damage their advice is causing? Advice that is wrecking our children’s lives and more importantly their future!!!
Following the science!! No we’re not. If we followed the science we’d be doing things much differently. Only Sweden is following the science and accepting that some of its old won’t survive but its young will.
And if there is any part of the population that should return to normal activities immediately it is our children. Not only do they need to socially, but because it’s the fastest way for them to develop immunity so protecting themselves in perpetuity. And their teachers too, for that matter. And the claim that it could spread the disease faster makes no sense. Firstly because they themselves are bulletproof. And, secondly, if it’s to protect one or either parent, that risk, will be there anyway, until there’s a vaccine!!!!
What else should we be doing? Educate the public and begin to eliminate the fear, And getting the kids back to school will go a long way in achieving that. Share the statistics: there are mountains of data available. If you’re young and healthy you likely have more risk of being permanently injured in a car crash. Yet I see folks driving around with face masks on, it’s mind boggling.
But most important of all push back. Governor Newsom is a prime candidate for push-back.
His second tenet for opening up the California economy is
” being able to protect California’s most vulnerable populations, including seniors, the homeless, and those with compromised immunity””
Is he nuts?!!! Don’t see any mention there of children….maybe he thinks they’re not vulnerable. No mention of vulnerable families. Families wondering if they’re gonna be evicted before this is all over and they still can’t find a job. He’s forgotten that his mother struggled, just like you are to make ends meet, while his father continued to rub shoulders with the connected and wealthy.
No, the Governor is not worried because he is economically bulletproof. He made $1.2 million dollars last year as deputy governor. He lives in a mansion you pay for, with tax payer help you pay for too. Through his father’s connections, he has always had the financial backing of many of the wealthiest N. California families. Families with a combined wealth of over $400 Billion. Families that bankrolled his early business ventures and where he made his money. Does he care about you??? He should, but today as always, his eyes are on his political goal, the White House. Those families that bankroll him. They see him as the next JFK. The only problem with that is JFK was a war hero, and worshiped by all for good reason.
His latest political grandstanding, “cash for the undocumented.” Governor, want to help the undocumented? Let them go back to work ASAP. Still want to give them cash?? Ask for a $40 billion hand out from your benefactors, they’ll still have $360 billion left, more than enough to get by don’t you think.
His slogan, all over the radio…” Stay home, Save Lives”. Just whose life are we saving governor??? Because it certainly isn’t my kids or grand kids.
So before you vote for Newsom again, make sure he gets his eyes off ” the old, the disadvantaged and the undocumented” and back on your children, and your job. Because nobody’s job is bulletproof in this economy…and we’ve got to jump start this economy as fast as we can…your lives, your children’s lives and my grandchildren’s lives depend on it. Make your voices heard!!!
Ask him for ALL California’s statistics now, by age group, by underlying conditions, if in care and let’s get it updated daily!!! If other countries can do it, surely the tech capital of the world, California, can do it. Governor you want us to sacrifice our children?? For whom and why??
How do we move forward? Let’s make a start by educating everyone. If you have a known health issue, wear a face mask and gloves when you go out, work or play. If you don’t know you’re at risk, check with your doctor. Protect yourself.
If you’re any age and healthy, and that is 96% of us, go out and live. Let’s open the schools, the hairdressers, the nail salons, the malls, the dry cleaners, the gyms, the golf courses. and finally the restaurants for those that want to go,
Let’s minimize any further damage to our children’s future. They deserve it, and we NEED it.
Thanks for reading this. If you agree, and even if you don’t, forward it on, let’s make “take care of our children and their future” a true social media virus. Because they are not at risk from Covid19 themselves, but their futures sure are, and it’s getting worse by the minute!!!
Thank you for all of the positive comments about having a postponed ceremony. Our daughter also wrote that in under other. We would love to see her graduate and she would really appreciate the experience. These are extraordinary times. Let’s do something extraordinary and have a postponed ceremony.