Fireworks. Banners. Yard signs. Fire trucks. A drive-through parade. The year “2020” emblazoned on the football field.

Those are just some of the ideas Moniteau High School administrators are spitballing to honor their 88 seniors, said athletic director John Stoughton.

With the coronavirus pandemic putting prom and graduation in limbo and sending students home to complete their academic year, the administration launched a plan to honor its seniors, who already sacrificed so much.

“We wanted to do something,” Stoughton said. “We wanted to do something to remember these seniors. We feel for them.”

Stoughton, high school Principal Lance Fox, Assistant Principal Aubrie Schnelle and Superintendent Thomas Samonsky brainstormed ideas for the past several weeks.

Fox briefly detailed one aspect of the plan at a virtual meeting of the Moniteau School Board on Monday night, but did not go into great detail, other than to say the date of the senior recognition night — May 8 — is an important one. It's the night the school originally scheduled its prom.

Fox said the plan calls for students to arrive at the school in their vehicles for the festivities, which will include individual signs celebrating each senior posted around the campus.

“Mr. Stoughton has been instrumental,” Fox said. “Every student's picture and name and the year 2020 will be on yard signs placed around the building.”

Stoughton said students will not be permitted to leave their vehicles and all social distancing guidelines will be observed.

He also said arrangements are being made to have fire companies from West Sunbury, Marion, North Washington and Eau Claire in attendance.

Each spring sport, which lost their seasons to COVID-19, as well as school clubs that had events canceled, will be recognized with a banner, Stoughton said.

Fox also detailed plans for prom and graduation.

He also gave board members the results of a poll the administration conducted of the senior class.

Fox said 83 of the 88 seniors responded to two questions. The first question was about graduation.

He said 49 percent said they would like a drive-up ceremony at the school, 33 percent were in favor of a video graduation if social distancing practices were still observed and 18 percent had no preference and would be OK with diplomas mailed to them.

The second question was what month seniors preferred for graduation.

Fox said 39 percent had no preference, 27 percent wanted a June graduation, 21 percent favored a July graduation and 13 percent just wanted their diplomas mailed to them.

Fox said caps and gowns would be given to students, along with the contents of their lockers. Students did not have the opportunity to retrieve their personal belongings when school was abruptly canceled last month because of the pandemic.

Fox also said prom has been rescheduled for July 15 at the North Washington Social Hall. That could change based on social distancing guidelines, he quickly added.