The follow community update is from the Ada school website, posted on April 30, 2020.
Dear Community (and especially seniors and families):
Up until last Thursday, when the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Health released directives specific to graduation (and other traditional, end of year, group gatherings for students), our plan had been to have a fairly traditional, in person graduation. Unfortunately, with those directives, we are forced to rethink how we honor the class of 2020.
Our hearts hurt relative to this change, but we will press on in the manner we are allowed. The Governor further clarified his directives related to group gatherings, parades, and so forth. We are confident that our plan meets the requirements of the Governor’s office, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Ohio Department of Education.
As the Ohio Department of Education has advised schools that they should cancel any in-person gatherings, in order to maintain utmost safety for students, staff, and families, we are working on a virtual way to honor our graduating class and our valedictorians and salutatorians.
This will include an opportunity for each class member and a very small contingent of family to come to the school, don your cap and gown, walk across the stage, receive your diploma, and have your photo (and a video for the virtual graduation) taken.
We are working on having a photographer provide each senior a professional photograph, and will include the photographs in the virtual ceremony, which will also be available on DVD for students and families to keep. It is our hope to have this graduation video ready to be premiered at the date and time of your originally scheduled graduation.
In the coming days, seniors and senior parents, please watch for communication regarding the specifics, scheduling, etc., for scheduling pictures and video-taping.
This will need to be done soon in order to get the video done before your graduation date and time. Please be timely in meeting deadlines of signing up for a time, sending in information, etc.
And, please, get your assignments done for your classes. You are almost there! We have received some emails and messages from folks suggesting various creative ideas for celebrating this class; however, as a Superintendent my number one responsibility is always the safety of students, staff, and visitors at all school events.
Not only would the creation, promotion, or hosting of a group gathering of any type be contrary to the Governor’s order (including his continued ban of group gatherings of more than 10 people and a specific ban on parades which has not been lifted), it could also cause someone to become ill, or even die, a tragedy I could never forgive myself for letting something like that happen.
While we can issue specifications, such as staying in your car, etc., in recent similar events (i.e. birthday drive by celebrations), pictures indicate people don’t always follow those specifications, whether purposefully or inadvertently, putting themselves and/or others at risk. Not only would that open the district to liability, but more importantly, it could break many hearts in our school and/or community should something happen.
As a school crisis responder and instructor, I cannot in good conscience condone an activity that opens us up to a possible tragedy. And there is no way allowing something like that to happen fits with our mission and vision.
Obviously, if we are unable to have graduation, prom is also a group gathering with more inherent danger in the midst of a global pandemic. While this also breaks our hearts, we have come to the conclusion that this event, too, must now be cancelled for this school year.
I thank Mr. Lee, Mrs. VanBuskirk, and especially Mrs. Allison and Mr. Klein, for continuing to prepare for the event, but it is clear that prom falls within the directives received last week.
After reading and rereading the directives received last week, and talking with ODE and health department officials, listening to the Governor’s clarifications, as well as conferring with many of the Superintendents in my network of friends, colleagues, and mentors, I do believe this is the only decision that can be made, and I believe it is the right one for the safety of all.
We are so sorry for the grief that most certainly will accompany this news by parents, family, and especially our beloved seniors. We love you all and look forward to putting together this virtual graduation and seeing each of you, if only for a few minutes, and watching you walk across the stage and get your diplomas. More details will be mailed out to students and parents in the coming days to make these arrangements.
Until then, stay strong, and support each other.
Mrs. Skilliter, Superintendent
