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Austin Public Schools, during their monthly meeting Monday, announced preliminary plans for its 2020 graduation in the face of strict restrictions announced by the state.

Ever since COVID-19 gripped the state in March, forcing all schools to start distance learning, graduation has been one of those events that districts have been working on adjusting.

Many districts simply pushed back their graduation dates, but this last Friday, the Minnesota Department of Education announced that no mass graduations could be held per guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health.

This forced a planning group that included Austin High School Principal Andrea Malo, students and parents to rethink their plans.

“This has definitely been a unique year for us all,” Malo told the APS School Board via Zoom. “This has been a learning process and I’m very proud of the people we’ve worked with.”

The original plan took into account two things students wanted: First, to be able to walk a stage and second, gather with their class. But with the announcement Friday, those plans have changed, forcing the planning group back to the drawing board.

While a large part of the original plan had to be scrapped, there are parts of it that can go forward.

Malo read from a letter that was being sent out to students and their families explaining that the current plan they have in place will include a virtual ceremony where the individual components will be recorded, including student speeches and recognition of the graduates by the school board.

It also includes the video of the seniors that normally plays at the start of each graduation along with the names being read off with their picture.

That video, when edited together, will be available for students and families to watch the day of graduation on June 5. From 6-8 p.m., the plan will allow students and families to participate in a drive-thru method of collecting their diploma, similar to how they picked up caps and gowns earlier this month.

Banners will be hung at Wescott Athletic Complex the week of graduation, as well as the week after graduation, in partnership with Hormel Foods.

“We really wanted to make sure kids can have their special day,” Malo said. “This is the one event we look forward to every year, which is the capstone for everything we do for our kids.”

Board Chair Carolyn Dube agreed, crediting all parties involved for taking such a vested interest in the students.

“I know this is a big deal, I know this is far from perfect,” Dube said. “I’m so thankful for our staff and our administration and our community that loves our graduates. If it was a perfect world we would be at Knowlton Auditorium and watch them cross the stage.”

There are also some thoughts on being able to do something next school year. That plan could involve the students invited back and given special seating. A senior photo would be arranged and the students would be let into the event for free, then at halftime they would be invited to the middle of the court or field to be recognized and to throw their caps into the air.

Lunch program

The board also approved the 2020-21 school year lunch program that includes a 10 cent raise as dictated by the federal National Schools Lunch Program.

A calculator through the United States Department of Ag indicates whether a school should raise a price. This year the calculator determined a raise for Austin in order to continue taking part in the program.