Pikes Peak-area school districts discuss what final few weeks of school will look like

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the Governor's announcement that Colorado students and staff will not return to the classroom this year, school districts in the Pikes Peak Region are preparing for what their final few weeks will look like.

On Tuesday multiple district spokeswomen tell KRDO each of the district's Superintendents were on a Statewide conference call with Governor Jared Polis that day to discuss the possibilities of what graduation for seniors could look like.

As for the traditional graduation ceremony, Allison Cortez the spokeswoman for Academy District 20 says Polis believes it's not possible at this time. "The Governor said this morning we can not feasibly do that until the very earliest in Fall," Cortez says.

The group then discussed other possibilities. One many will be doing is virtual graduations for students and their families. Something Samantha Briggs with Widefield School District 3 says its three high schools will be doing. "We are going to do our best to honor them and celebrate them virtually and then we hope to have that graduation ceremony later."

Another option discussed is holding a graduation ceremony similar to how the Air Force Academy. Distancing graduates appropriately with families and friends not watching from the stands but online.

Superintendents also discussed E-learning and how teachers and students are handling the change. Some officials admit there have been challenges like getting some students to log on or figuring out the right amount of work to give. But they say it's been a learning process and something they are working to improve. Especially with the possibility that schools may not resume next year if this pandemic continues. "We know that possibly into the fall we may be faced with a virtual reopening our schools or even a social distance type of planning for our schools," Devra Ashby the spokeswoman for District 11 says, "So we are going to still have to rely on our distance learning plans into next school year and beyond."

As for the meal programs at school, they will still be offered despite schools being closed for the rest of the year.