Mahoning health officials OK limited graduation ceremony plans

CANFIELD — The Mahoning County Department of Health has approved three different plans for graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 in Mahoning County.

All school districts are asked to adhere to one of the following three plans, per the health commissioner:

Virtual ceremonies

These are recommended by the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education and the Mahoning County Public Health Department.

Drive-thru graduation options

One option would include immediate household family members remaining in the vehicle and the graduate receiving a diploma through the car window.

A second option would include immediate household family members remaining in their vehicles, while the graduate exits as he or she is called to receive their diploma.

A third option would include the format of a "drive-in" theater having one car per graduate. Immediate household family members would park in a designated, secured and controlled location in the manner of a drive-in theater (parking lot). Families are not permitted to exit their vehicles except for less than 10 people in intervals to confer a diploma and conform to the orders of social gatherings and distancing.

A fourth option is that the district board of education hand-deliver diplomas to graduates' homes and leave diplomas in a safe location for students to pick up. Board members would stay 6 feet away from the diplomas and students, and no hand delivery would occur.

In-person graduations organized by family

The ceremonies would require structured, preventative measures to ensure the safety of everyone involved, such as:

• Strict interval scheduling;
• Limits of no more than 10 people — including family and administrators — in the building at the same time;
• Disinfecting door handles and high-touch surfaces in between each family;
• Strict parking to prevent congregating in the parking lots.

The health department also recommends police involvement to help control traffic, and that there be no "handing off" of diplomas. Masks are required for all school personnel and are recommended to be worn at any in-person event.

For more information, go to the Mahoning County Health Department website or the Mahoning County Educational Service Center website.

The summer rental and catering industries that surround Mahoning County graduates each year is also bracing for a socially distant summer. Some are finding ways to fill revenue gaps left by the state's ban on mass gatherings, while others are awaiting federal relief that remains nebulous.

This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 4:11 AM with the headline "Mahoning health officials OK limited graduation ceremony plans."