Local schools reveal plans for graduation

The three local school districts in Shoshone County are entering the final stretch of their school years in what has been the most unprecedented school year anyone has ever seen.

This final stretch included a myriad of things including sports, concerts and proms, but most importantly it is also graduation season.

Last year the local schools were forced to get creative for their graduations, utilizing platforms like YouTube, Facebook Live, as well as unique staging opportunities in parking lots. To maintain social distancing requirements and to keep families contained.

This year, as the use of masks and distribution of the various COVID-19 vaccines has been rolled out, the schools are setting their graduation plans.

Both Wallace and Mullan have set their graduation date for Friday, May 28, and both schools have their plans set.

Both school districts have recently dropped their mask requirements, which was a positive sign for people hoping for in-person graduation ceremonies.

In Mullan, Principal Don Kotschevar is foreseeing graduation being a lot more similar to 2019 than 2020 as long as the number of positive cases doesn’t take a turn for the worst.

“Mullan Jr./Sr. High School is planning a traditional graduation ceremony and requesting not requiring a face mask to be worn,” Kotschevar said. “However should COVID numbers begin increasing, we would modify our program to accommodate changes to keep everybody safe.”

The Wallace School District utilized their Reopening Committee to come up with a plan that they were comfortable with.

“We had a Reopening Committee last Thursday which looked at local stats, cases in the schools, etc., and discussed our plan for graduation,” said WHS Graduation Adviser Tina Brackebusch. “The committee then presented recommendations to the school board at a special board meeting on Monday.”

The board did approve the plan which includes the criteria of staying within Gov. Brad Little’s 40% attendance capacity rule, and attending the ceremony will be by invitation only.

According to Brackebusch, each senior student will receive up to 15 tickets to give to family and friends.

Kellogg High School is planning to hold its graduation on June 5, although at this time there are no concrete plans that have passed through the school board.

The school district is also still under its own mask requirement, which will be addressed at the May board meeting.

KHS Principal Curt-Randal Bayer told the News-Press that as of right now the plan is to hold their ceremony inside with a limited number of guests and in compliance with local health department guidelines.

At KHS, location may also be a factor depending on when the school begins the process of replacing bleachers in the gymnasium.