School districts plan for end of current school year, effects on next year

Outside Andover High School, former classmates, now college sophomores gather, keeping their distance from each other.

"We're meeting up because we can't go anywhere else and the high school is convenient," said one.

Their high school years bring back good memories, something high seniors now are grappling with.

"We just got to stay positive, that’s the only thing I can really think about," said Grace Johnston, a senior at East Ridge High School in Woodbury.

The high school senior said she understands the governor's decision but said it's still sad.

"I did expect it, we kind of knew we weren’t going to back to school, but once it was put into words I did cry a little bit this morning," she said.

Like many, the Anoka Hennepin School District has been planning for this, just in case.

Walz announces schools will remain closed through end of school year, MSHSL cancels spring activities

"We have contingency plans for everything we are doing, and that is new for us, but that’s the new normal," said Superintendent David Law.

He said middle and elementary school students will likely be graded as pass-fail this year, with letter grades for high schoolers. He also said the district is already talking about the fall.

"I think teachers will be much more in tune with where kids are starting in the fall and give them more time to transition back, and give them a lot of breathing time for kids who haven’t sat in a classroom for six hours during the day since March," he said.

The district won't start back up early because of school construction projects this summer, but Law hopes to let seniors come back this spring in small groups.

"Maybe they sign up and come in with their friends and walk the halls one last time, I think we will try to accommodate that, creatively," he shared.

Law said, with new information coming in daily, planning is constantly in motion and adapting is key.

"I wish we were getting the whole experience of walking across the stage in our cap and gown all of that, but, you know, these are circumstances, we can’t control this I guess," Johnston added.

Plans for banquets and commencement ceremonies are still being discussed by many school districts.