For 13 years, Kendall Grossman dreamed of the day when she could put on her cap and gown, walk to a stage and accept her high school diploma.

She longed to move her tassel from right to left and then throw her cap skyward.

She also pined for the chance to go to prom again — one last time.

Kendall considers those things necessary rites of passage.

To the Moniteau High School senior, a final school year without a prom or a graduation would be both hollow and gut-wrenching.

“We won't have closure,” Kendall said. “I think as a senior, (prom and graduation) are kind of a farewell.

“I don't think we really appreciated those things until we were worried about not having them, especially graduation,” she added.

Kendall and other seniors may not miss out on those monumental events — put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic — after all.

In recent days, school districts all over Butler County have been devising plans to save those cornerstones of high school life.

Including Moniteau.

“We're going to do whatever we can do to have prom and have a graduation,” said Moniteau principal Lance Fox.

That includes some outside-the-box proposals, such as a drive-in graduation.

Logistics for something like that, however, will be difficult to work out, but it was discussed at the Moniteau School Board meeting Monday night.

“We're going to do something,” Fox said.

The Moniteau board ultimately decided at its meeting to survey the student body about what their vision was for their prom and commencement.

The board also encouraged community members to come forward with ideas.

“If you have an idea or something you think would work, please email our superintendent,” said board President Michael Panza.

Kendall is pleased the administration is trying everything in its power to give them these two important events.

“I think it's nice they're doing that,” she said. “I know for all of my classmates — we're a tight-knit group — we didn't even know it was going to be our last day of school (March 13) and we didn't have a chance to say goodbye. It felt like the rug was pulled out from under us.”

Butler plans on prom, graduation

Butler Area High School senior Ashley Kennedy had the same feeling.

She, too, felt as though there was no closure.

Ashley appreciates the effort to give her and her classmates some finality.

Butler also plans on holding a prom and graduation, even if they are postponed deep into the summer months.

“As long as we all get to have one,” she said. “I know everyone within the district that's planning all of the events are trying their best under the circumstances.”

The problem school districts are facing is how to plan when there is no clear timetable for when social distancing guidelines will be lifted.

School is already canceled for the academic year, making scheduling prom and commencement even trickier.

“Obviously, we don't know when anything is going to get back to normal,” said Butler Superintendent Brian White. “Even if we have to have it in July, we will have it.”

Butler Principal John Wyllie sent out an email to students April 2 to allay concerns over the loss of prom and graduation.

“Perhaps the two most recognizable events, Prom and Commencement, have gotten particular attention,” the email read. “As a District, our goal is to provide those two events in some manner. If that means a July Prom because that's when the restrictions on large groups is lifted, so be it. We will figure it out.”

The email also promised to “(provide) our seniors a celebration of their accomplishments in some way.”

Some members of the Moniteau School Board, however, wondered if holding these events in the summer months was legal.

Board member Linda Dillaman said she wasn't sure if they could be considered school functions if the students were deemed adults.

But Moniteau solicitor Andrea Parenti said, “it's not traditional, but yes, I think it would still be a school function.”

Other districts' plans

The Seneca Valley, Karns City, Slippery Rock and Mars school districts also are making plans to hold a prom and/or commencement whenever social distancing requirements are lifted.

“We are definitely looking to hold these events whenever possible,” said Mars Area High School Superintendent Wesley Shipley. “We want the students to experience the best of high school. We are looking at all possibilities right now.”

Slippery Rock Principal Cory Hake also sent out an email early last week detailing the district's intent to hold prom June 13.

There was no word in the email about a commencement ceremony, however.

Slippery Rock senior class President Nate Gill said he appreciated the effort, but worried about potential conflicts in the summer months.

“It's all right, but it's getting into graduation party season, and I already know of three people that are supposed to have grad parties (June 13),” Gill said. “It will be fun to see everyone again, though, and have a good night.”

As of Monday night, students in other Butler County districts, such as Knoch and Freeport, have said they have yet to receive notification about whether prom or graduation will be held.

The Freeport athletics Twitter account did tweet out a message last week polling its student followers on their thoughts about a June or July prom.

Freeport senior Sidney Shemanski hopes to get a chance to wear her $500 prom dress and walk to receiver her diploma at some point this year.

“These are the things we are going to remember for the rest of our lives,” Sidney said. “(Potentially missing) out on the prom, on graduation, on everything that makes a senior year a senior year (is) really depressing sometimes.”