The committee didn’t take any public comment during the meeting, but officials did address a host of community concerns.

The current plan for the Warren County School District is to stick to the calendar. “We’re going to adhere to the calendar as established at the beginning of the school year,” Committee Chairman Joe Colosimo said.

The recommendation by the Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology committee was that graduation and commencement be held, in some form, on June 5, and that the school year not be extended to make up for time lost to mandatory closures — provided that there is no contrary direction from the regulatory bodies.

“We know that we lose (seniors) to the military, to their college summer programs,” Superintendent Amy Stewart said. “They’re ready to start adulting at that point.”

As far as keeping the remaining students around for an extended school year… “we know that we will not get everyone in school, on board, and in learning at the end of June,” Stewart said.

School board members and administrators hope that there will be a way to offer a memorable graduation event. But, there are limits beyond the district’s control.

“We have been given direction,” Stewart said. “Graduation is to be virtual.”

Colosimo suggested that an outlay of funds for graduation would be appropriate, if helpful. “If we can make it special for the seniors to recognize their accomplishment… If we can’t, it’s a global pandemic.”

Committee member Elizabeth Huffman made a public invitation to parents and others who might have ideas about how to offer a memorable and appropriate ceremony to contact board members.

“The parents are sending in some suggestions,” Stewart said. “Drive-ins and parades (with appropriate social distancing if requirements have not been lifted) have been talked about.”

Board member Arthur Stewart suggested that additional dollars might help prepare the yearbook. “Getting that yearbook is a big part of the graduation experience,” he said. He is willing to vote in favor of funding “so our seniors can walk away with a meaningful keepsake.”

Planning for proms is more complicated. Such an event would clearly require the end of social distancing.

“What’s our plan for prom?” board member Marcy Morgan asked. “As far as our position, I’d like to see some kind of statement.”

“Prom’s equally important, especially your senior year,” Colosimo said. “If it’s something we can do, let’s see if we can make it happen. Even if there’s an expense… give our students an opportunity to enjoy the prom.”

Huffman suggested that the committee continues to discuss prom at the April 27 meeting. “Four weeks will be a good indication of where we will be with this thing,” she said. “I don’t think we can make any decisions until another month.”

In the legal advertisement for the meeting, district officials outlined how the public could submit questions for discussion at the meeting. None were submitted. Other than that opportunity, the committee did not take public comment during the virtual meeting.

“This class of 2020 and this spring is one that will go down in the books,” Amy Stewart said.