Nashoba looks at drive-through graduation, future film – Worcester Telegram

BOLTON - It won't be a traditional graduation by any stretch of the imagination, but a group consisting of parents, students and faculty are planning a multi-part celebration.

With the first choice of date as June 14, and second as June 21, Acting Principal Steve Cullinane told the School Committee Wednesday night that the group is hoping to plan a parade from the Bolton Office Park to Nashoba Regional High School. Cars would pull up in front of the school and graduates could receive diplomas and stop for a family picture. The event could be recorded for a video keepsake for students.

Cullinane said the tentative plan is to have seniors come to the school June 2 to collect caps and gowns, as well as yearbooks and transcripts, which would be "practice for the graduation."

Nurse Coordinator Lesa Breault-Gulbicki said later in the meeting that she had been providing some advice to the graduation planning group and was glad they made changes to the initial suggestion, which would have been a gathering of cars at the fairgrounds, which would have been difficult depending on whether there was any loosening of the social distancing regulations. Currently, the state is still under the 10 person maximum rule.

Breault-Gulbicki said the state is still in the red zone, based on infection rates.

Cullinane said other changes have gone forward based on what students may be missing out on due to the coronavirus shutdowns.

The junior prom had to be cancelled this spring, but the committee is looking at gathering the current juniors together for an October senior prom, while holding a spring junior prom for next year's juniors.

Cullinane said the staff is also planning a fun virtual prom soon to keep students engaged.

Currently, the high school is working on attendance and reaching out to students not participating in remote learning. He said many have individual reasons, including sick family members at home or students that need to work to help their families. The staff is working with students on an individual basis.

This school year, grades will be based on the first semester, with the second semester pass/fair, Cullinane said. The staff did study whether students would fare better or worse if work turned in was accepted for grades in the third quarter, but found that what was done "would have hurt more than it helped" with 75 to 80 percent of the students not doing better in that system.

"Colleges have been very understanding," Cullinane said. "Even military academies are accepting that this is a blip on the radar."

The school is being liberal with dealing with students, including looking at work study credit for those who have to work.

"I don't see many failing," Cullinane said.

Building status

Director of Facilities Rob Frieswick said his staff is checking buildings seven days a week and working on small projects.

With the commissioner of education being "adamant that nothing open before May 18," Superintendent of Schools Brooke Clenchy said the district cannot gear up much early. "We are rule followers."

Frieswick said when they come back, there will be no more than two people in the same area and they will practice social distancing wearing personal protection equipment. Starting the week of May 11, his staff will work split shifts, Mondays through Thursdays, in the school buildings, with a one-hour break in between shifts to make sure there is no chance of people congregating.

For the week beginning May 18, the plan is for staff to return to 40-hour work weeks with custodians working in larger areas and with the staff to gather belongings.

"We are planning with the principals to have their staff gather belongings so we can put rooms to bed for summer cleaning," Frieswick told the School Committee.

Clenchy said cleaning out the buildings, particularly the high school, is a "mammoth undertaking."

The freshman class shares lockers so it is not easy to divide up belongings. At other schools, there are also shared lockers.

But, in the meantime, some stuff has gotten done. Extra cameras have been installed, as well as carpeting in the central office building.

Frieswick thanked the community for the support his employees have received, including gift cards.

"Be patient with the returning of belongings," he said. "It might take some time, but everyone will get their stuff back."

Food services

Thomas Houle, the coordinator of nutritional services, said he was proud of the work his employees have done, with 17 of the 21 members of the team working to feed students on a regular basis. The other four have been keeping up with online training.

Under a USDA waiver, the district has been able to work under a so-called "seamless summer operation," serving everyone in the three communities, ages up to 21, breakfast and lunch on a daily basis.

Pick-up locations in the three towns are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; students or family members can pick up two breakfasts and two lunches each on Mondays and Thursdays, and three breakfasts and lunches Fridays, to take them through the weekend.

Meals are available, free of charge, at the front entrance to Lancaster's Luther Burbank Middle School,1 Hollywood Drive; Nashoba High School auditorium entrance, 12 Green Road, Bolton; and Hale Middle School, 55 Hartley Road, Stow, rear left entrance; all 11 a.m. to noon.

The program started with less than 30 students served a day. Now, the district is serving over 150. The program has received USDA food to help with costs, and has even been able to donate some produce to WHEAT, which also serves families in need in Bolton and Lancaster. The program has also received $11,100 in grants.

With the waiver, the district is getting reimbursement of just over $2 for each breakfast and $3 for each lunch.

Houle said, with the grants, the district has ordered new signs to tell residents about the program, new sealing machines to prevent leaks and coolers and ice packs to make sure hot food stays hot and cold food stays cold. Houle said the word is getting spread through day care providers and housing facilities.

Houle said the way food is provided to students will change going forward.

"In the next school year, we will have to think about how we feed children," Houle said.

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Nashoba looks at drive-through graduation, future film - Worcester Telegram