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THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020
York seniors feel failed by School Board attempts to honor grads Some parents offended by Moyer’s letters to students
FOR THE ELMHURST INDEPENDENT
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board remotely held a regular meeting on May 12, with the board and staff members communicating online. The meeting included the reading of more than 60 comments from residents who submitted their remarks online. Board president Kara Caforio joined board members Courtenae Trautmann and Beth Hosler in reading the comments. Nearly all were in regards to the district’s plans for York High School’s commencement ceremony, which was originally supposed to take place Sunday, May 17. That ceremony was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of York’s Class of 2020 and their parents submitted most of the comments read aloud during the May 12 meeting. The comments were critical of the district’s updated plans to recognize York students on May 17. Those plans included encouraging Elmhurst residents to celebrate a community cheer on that date. According to a release issued by the district on May 11, “D205 is inviting the entire community to join us on their lawns, clanging pots and pans, blowing air horns, sounding sirens, ringing church bells for a ‘Community Cheer’ raising a celebration of the Class of 2020,” between 1:10 and 1:15 p.m. The district also announced plans to turn the lights on at York’s stadium on the afternoon of May 17, and leave them on until 8:20 p.m., or 20:20 in military time. One York student who submitted a comment for the May 12 meeting stated that the administration and school had failed the school’s Class of 2020. The student, along with
several of the parents who submitted comments, asked why this year’s graduates wouldn’t receive their caps and gowns until a couple of days after the May 17 ceremony. Many parents stated that students should receive their caps and gowns before the ceremony, so they could wear them for photos on May 17—the originally scheduled graduation date. Clanging pots and pans deemed ‘inadequate’ Other commenters criticized the lack of any virtual ceremony planned for May 17. Parents who submitted comments also noted that the COVID-19 shutdown had been in place for nearly two months, and that the school and district should have made better plans to honor York’s Class of 2020. Commenters also criticized the plans to “clang pots and pans” as an inadequate way to celebrate this year’s graduates. Parents also stated that the postCOVID-19 plans for York’s Class of 2020 did not compare favorably with those of other area schools. In addition to York, schools with an original graduation date of May 17 include District 88’s two schools—Willowbrook High School in Villa Park and Addison Trail High School. Those two schools both planned virtual ceremonies on May 17. Students from each District 88 school were able to drive through the school parking lot to pick up their caps, gowns and diplomas on May 15 and May 16. Some of the parents and students who submitted comments for the May 12 meeting also urged the district to try to hold York’s 2020 prom later this summer. York’s prom was originally scheduled for April 25 at the Museum of Science and Industry
Inside:
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in Chicago, but was canceled because of the pandemic. At the April 28 board meeting, District 205 Superintendent David Moyer recommended canceling this year’s prom. Comments from parents and students also urged board members to think of creative ways to recognize
York’s Class of 2020. Some of the parents who made comments said they would be willing to contribute to an effort to honor this year’s graduates. At the board meeting held April 28, Moyer said that a lead time of 34 days was required to produce a virtu-
al graduation. One of the York parents who submitted the comment for the May 12 meeting stated that other area schools had already arranged virtual commencement events. The parent noted that York can stream
See SENIORS, Page 18
SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent
A parade of Blessings
Clergy from the College of Elmhurst Ministerium showed their support to Elmhurst Hospital’s staff and patients on Wednesday, May 13 with a parade of cars around the hospital campus. Participants held signs that said thank you and other kind words of support to those working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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