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Rich Township
High School District 227
20550 S. Cicero Avenue
Matteson, IL 60443
Telephone: 708.679-5800
Fax: 708.679-5733
www.rich227.org

Date: June 2020

To: Board of Education
From: Dr. Johnnie Thomas

Re: Executive Summary (Confidential)

Communications

In May 2020, the Communications Department at Rich Township High School District 227
collaborated with Educational Services, Business Office, and Human Resources Department to
develop and distribute multiple crisis communications documents in response to the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. We worked closely with Educational Services Office to assist in planning
the district’s virtual graduation ceremony for Rich Central, Rich East, and Rich South High Schools
and worked with building leadership to distribute important information to stakeholders regarding
2020-21 school year transition to a one-school, two-campus model. The Communications
Department also collaborated with Global 360 Marketing to execute multiple projects related to the
district’s virtual graduation video production.

Following the extension of the state’s stay-at-home order, it was determined that the Rich Township
High School campuses’ graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 must be held in a modified or
virtual format rather than in-person. The District surveyed senior students to gauge their preferred
ceremony format – a virtual graduation was preferred by the senior student body. Graduation
committee members (staff) also supported a contactless ceremony for protection of students,
families, and staff during this pandemic. The Communications Department, Educational Services
Office and Global 360 Marketing collaborated in May to finalize plans for the Class of 2020
graduation and attain press coverage by ABC 7 Eyewitness News. The virtual graduation was
conducted as follows: Seniors were invited to tape their virtual graduation in front of a few family
members at an appointed time in the school gym or auditorium. Families were ten feet apart as they
arrived at staggered appointment times. The school principal placed diplomas on a stand and
students retrieved them, contrary to the traditional physical hand off the diploma. Upon arrival,
students took professional photos, filmed their walk across the stage, taped a fifteen-second
testimonial and received their official diploma. The film crew captured additional footage to be

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