Graduation plans to be announced soon
Dan McClelland
Signs that are adorned with the images of the Tupper Lake High School Class of 2020 created at Stacked Graphics line Park Street adjacent to the high school. They stand as tributes to this year's four dozen or so graduates. (Dan McClelland photo)
by Rich Rosentreter
The Tupper Lake School District is set to announce tentative plans for the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 later today, although those plans are subject to change depending on the COVID-19 situation.
According to District Superintendent Seth McGowan, the district is “very close” to having a plan and he hopes to release it publicly today or tonight on the school’s Facebook page.
“We hope to have made a decision on what we will be allowed to do and how we’re going to do that,” Mr. McGowan told the Free Press on Monday, adding that he will get the word out at that time. “I’ll do a special posting and send a voice message to everybody also.”
Mr. McGowan explained that any plans are being made are not set in stone even though the upcoming plan may seem promising for the graduating class and their family and friends.
“If something happens between now and then (graduation day), it would derail what we’ve been talking about,” he said.
One emerging factor that was mentioned was Monday’s news that an employee at Mercy Health Care was diagnosed positive for COVID-19.
“It indicates that we’re not past this yet and if something catastrophic happens and we become a hot spot or if there’s an outbreak in Tupper Lake, the rules may change,” he said. “Right now we’re in Phase 2, but the governor reserves the right to close things down again.”
“If things continue as they are today that will be the plan we use. If things change, then of course we’ll have to change to accommodate whatever new executive order comes out – and I’m hoping that’s not the case obviously,” he said.
Special year
It’s certainly been a tough year for the Class of 2020, and Mr. McGowan, who announced that he will be resigning from his post this year, will be overseeing his last graduation in the Tupper Lake school district.
Under the circumstances, Mr. McGowan and his wife Sue on Sunday night lined the grassy area on Park Street adjacent to the high school with signs of each and every graduating senior from the Class of 2020.
“We wanted it to be a surprise for everybody when they woke up,” he said. “We wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of the seniors. The month of June is really going to be focused on them. There are some things, surprises, that we are planning. Also it just seemed timely that when everyone got up, they’d see all the seniors.”
Mr. McGowan stressed that this graduation is not about him, but “they’re graduating and this is my last chance to do something for them. And in particular it’s they’re last chance to get something from the district as well.”
“In subsequent years the juniors and younger students, they’re going to have their graduation. They’re going to have their opportunities and moments to shine,” he said. “But this year the senior class has missed out on a number of things and I feel this is my last chance to do something nice for them. I really want to make it as special as we can during this month - and the culminating graduation experience, we want to make that special too.”
Signs that are adorned with the images of the Tupper Lake High School Class of 2020 created at Stacked Graphics line Park Street adjacent to the high school. They stand as tributes to this year's four dozen or so graduates. (Dan McClelland photo)