Washington’s students should plan on returning to school on time, and in person. Washington Superintendent Dr. Daniel Roach told the School Board that Washington officials have met with officials at the Board of Health and other Daviess County schools, and conducted a survey of parents. Roach said the survey had a high rate of parent participation. Roach said the current plan is for Washington’s students to report to school on August 7. The Superintendent also said that there would be alternatives for parents with concerns about the health situation.
The graduation ceremony for the WHS Class of 2020 is still scheduled for Saturday, July 11. WHS Principal Steve Peterson told the Board that Washington School officials had contacted other schools and asked for guidance from the Board of Health. With the current health concerns, Washington High School plans to limit attendance at the Commencement ceremony. Peterson said each student would receive approximately 10 tickets for family members. That would limit the crowd to 2000 people. Dr. Roach said that having the 7000 seat Hatchet House would allow the graduate’s family members to be adequately spacing throughout the gymnasium. On the downside, Peterson said the band and the choir would not be participating in the Commencement ceremony, and congratulatory handshakes would also be omitted.
And, while graduation ceremonies are still scheduled, another end-of-the-year tradition has been scratched for this year. Peterson and Roach told the Board that after consultation with the Board of Health, officials from other school districts, and Washington High School student leaders, the 2020 Prom has been cancelled. Peterson several scenarios were discussed, but the final decision was to pull the plug on the Prom. Peterson said that the student leaders decided to donate the money they had raised this year to the 2021 Prom.
