By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Congratulations, Seniors 2020! Under normal circumstances, you’d hear that expression in May when high school graduation ceremonies take place. But for all students, this is anything but a normal year.
Schools were closed due to the coronavirus with hopes of opening back on April 6. But that deadline was extended – all the way through the end of the school year. School administrators and teachers have scrambled to prepare curriculum, packets, and methods of online teaching, and submit it all to the Alabama State Department of Education [ALSDE] for approval.
Seniors should be engaged in those “senior things” that define their last year in high school – prom, Baccalaureate, Class Day or Class Night, and commencement. But not this year.
The following statement was issued by Escambia County School Superintendent John Knott:
“Based on guidance from the ALSDE, the following grading procedures will be implemented for the Senior Class of the 2019-2020 school year:
“To the Senior Class of 2020: While disappointed in the mandate to cancel previously scheduled events, I am pleased to announce in accordance with recently issued ALSDE guidelines: Seniors who are on track to graduate and in good standing as of the third nine weeks reporting period are considered ‘as meeting the graduation requirements’ for the state of Alabama. As a result of this authority, we congratulate seniors for their outstanding achievements over the previous four years. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and work with local and state health officials to determine an appropriate time when the Class of 2020 can be recognized.
“Note: Seniors who do not fall in the aforementioned category will be contacted individually. Additionally, Seniors enrolled in ACCESS and virtual instruction, and those who wish to earn college credit for dual enrollment courses may be required to complete additional coursework. These students will also be contacted individually.”