Sandusky, Perkins, Huron announce graduation plans

SANDUSKY — More Erie County school districts have planned their graduations. On Monday, Sandusky, Perkins and Huron schools announced how they'll carry out their ceremonies with health guidelines in place due to COVID-19. Edison, SCCS, Margaretta and Port Clinton shared their plans last week. All Erie County schools' plans were submitted to the Erie County Health Department for review. Edison's plans were also sent to the Huron County Health Department. Port Clinton Schools didn't consult with the Ottawa County Health Department when deciding to move their graduation from May 27 to June 30, but will honor the health guidelines in place, superintendent Patrick Adkins said. Perkins At 5 p.m. May 29, the ceremony will start online with pre-recorded band performances, presentations and speeches by superintendent Todd Boggs, high school principal Jeff Harbal, a district board member and two senior class representatives. That portion of the ceremony is on Perkins Schools' YouTube channel and Perkins High School's website. At 5:30 p.m., the class of 2020 will begin receiving their diplomas in a drive-through format. Seniors and their families will enter the north parking lot and go to a stage behind the high school. The senior student will exit the vehicle and walk on stage, where administrators will give out their diploma. Seniors will then return to their vehicle and leave using the south parking lot. Students will be divided into four sections and directed to come to Perkins High School at an assigned time. Before the ceremony begins, seniors and their families will be given a specific time to come to the high school. Diplomas will be prepared ahead of time and organized alphabetically by last names. The tentative times are: • 5:30-6:15 p.m. – A - E students come to drive through • 6:15-7 p.m. – F - K students come to drive through • 7-7:45 p.m. – L - Q students come to drive through • 7:45-8:30 p.m. – R - Z students come to drive through No more than 10 people will be on stage at any time. Only Harbal, assistant principal Drew Davie, counselors Colleen Galloway and Cortney Feige and teacher Shana DeRose-Smith will be on the stage. Everyone on the stage will be wearing masks and gloves, and maintain proper social distancing. No diplomas will be touched except by an administrator wearing gloves and a mask. More information is at perkinshigh.org. Sandusky Sandusky High School's ceremony will include in-person and online activities. For their ceremony, seniors and families can choose a 5-minute slot between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. May 26, 27 or 28. When signing up for an appointment slot, students will have three options: Receive their diploma in-person at Strobel Field and appear in the graduation video; submit a photo for use in the graduation video or not participate in any graduation festivities and pick up their diploma in June. For students who choose to receive their diploma in-person, they and no more than nine family members can come watch their graduate walk across the stage. Before graduation, each seniors' cap and gowns, yard signs, and a gift will be personally delivered to each student's home prior to graduation. Questions can be sent to principal Eric Talbot at etalbot@scs-k12.net or call Sandusky High School at 419-984-1068. Additional details about Sandusky Schools' plan can be found at tinyurl.com/shsclass2020. Huron Huron High School seniors and their families will go to Huron Memorial Stadium to receive their diploma. In an email sent to all seniors, families to sign up for a specific time from 1-7 p.m. either May 19 or May 20. Arrival times will be staggered. Makeup dates in case of weather are 1-7 p.m. May 21 and 22. Parents and guardians can either watch their student walk across the stage and pick up their diploma, or they can walk with the graduate and hand them their diploma on-stage. Assistant principal Dennis Antonelli will read the graduate's name and principal Tim Lamb will congratulate the graduate from an appropriate distance. For the in-person commencement walk, each family will drive up to the south lot behind the home stands at Huron Memorial Stadium with the last name of the student visible in the front window. Following state guidelines, the restrooms will not be available for use. A video production company will record each graduate receiving their diploma and a compilation of all graduates will be created for seniors and their families to watch. Find more graduation information at Huron Schools' website, huronhs.com. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhood