Shaler Area School District’s decision to change to one, unified graduation gown continues to draw opposition from the community.
About 70 people attended a Sept. 28 town hall meeting at the high school auditorium.
Not one of the 15 who chose to speak – to either make comments or ask questions of Superintendent Dr. Sean Aiken – agreed with the planned change.
Senior Kendall Llewellyn asked why the class of 2023 won’t have the chance to wear the traditional gowns that graduates from so many previous years had the opportunity to wear.
“At the end of 2021, the district determined that it would transition to one, unified graduation gown. We are committed to making that transition; however, based on the feedback from the student body and community, we are looking at adjusting the design of the gown to be worn by graduates. We are currently soliciting additional student feedback, which we will review and consider before making a final determination,” Aiken said.
Aiken opened the meeting with a PowerPoint presentation and overview of the steps taken to make the decision to change from the current blue or white graduation gowns, depending on whether a graduate is female or male, to the proposed gown, which is mostly navy blue with rings of white and red at the cuffs.
He made it clear, as did the wording in the announcement for the meeting, that the decision to change to a unified gown had already been made, and the town hall was held specifically to answer community members’ questions.
Resident Anna Unglo-Dzikowski said that if the change represents a final decision, the students “should be given a chance to decide on the final design,” suggesting a color-block design that would include the blue and white school colors, along with the accent red that was added when Reserve and Etna schools joined the district.
High school administration, members of the activities office and student leaders at the high school collaborated on the new design, according to Aiken.
“We aren’t prisoners, but it feels like it when they insist on putting us all in the same uniform,” said Unglo-Dzikowski’s son, Zach.
Some parents made comments without approaching the microphone, saying that their children said they would boycott graduation if forced to wear a unified gown.
Aiken did say that the design has not been finalized and “is negotiable” and that a survey is currently being held for students to give their opinions regarding the gown design.
Another survey was distributed among the high school students on Oct. 10 to help determine any changes to the final design.
Timeline
June 2020 – A letter to the school board and administration from was addressed at the June 17, 2020, school board meeting. According to meeting minutes, the letter was sent by alumni and focused on anti-racism and equality. Superintendent Dr. Sean Aiken said the district wants to partner with a team of advisors on culturally responsive classrooms and regional experts to do an audit of who the district is.
July 2020 – At the July 15, 2020, school board meeting, several alumni spoke about their experiences of racism and ways the district could tackle it, according to meeting minutes.
August 2020-fall, winter 2021 – School board discussions on racism and inclusion, which led to the graduation gown discussion. “As we began having discussions about race and racism, we realized that it was deeper than just racism based on ethnicity,” Aiken said. “We felt like there was some marginalization with students that didn’t necessarily fit with the general population of students. So, we began to look at ways to become more inclusive for all students, not just those who identified as minorities, but those who felt disenfranchised or marginalized.”
October 2021 – According to the minutes of the Oct. 13, 2021, school board meeting, there was discussion regarding the possibility of inclusive options, including a third colored gown.
November 2021 – According to the minutes of the Nov. 10, 2021, school board meeting, a graduation gown committee presented three possible options:
1. Allow the class of 2022 to design new gowns for 2022 graduation and beyond
2. Continue with two gown options, allowing anyone to pick the color they prefer with no reference to gender
3. Continue with two gown options, allowing anyone to pick the color they prefer with no reference to gender, and then work with the junior class to come up with a design to be used beginning in 2023.
District administration announces it chooses option 3 at that school board meeting (it was not a board decision).
December 2021 – Graduation gown announcement
December 2021-January 2022 – Graduation gown design contest
February 2022 – According to the minutes of the Feb. 9, 2022, school board meeting, student representatives said that students in grades 9-11 were welcome to submit gown designs to be considered by the graduation committee. Submissions were due by the end of the school day on March 2, 2022.
School district partners with Jostens on new gowns.
June 2022 – Graduation gown review. High school administration, members from the activities office and student leaders at the high school reviewed the gown designs. Same people involved in revisions in addition to central admin and school board.
July 2022 – According to the minutes of the July 20, 2022, school board meeting, Dr. Aiken reported that the new design for graduation gowns was “well received” and that the rings on the sleeves represent all of the municipalities and “seem to be very popular.”
July-August 2022 – In addition to high school administrators, members of the activities office and student leaders, the school board and central administration went over revisions to the down design, according to Aiken.
August 2022 – Meeting with student leaders, graduation gown announcement
September 2022 – Meeting with student groups, town hall meeting
“Since the town hall, the administration has been in discussion with students about the unification of the graduation gowns,” Aiken said. “We are prepared to move forward to submit a final graduation gown to Jostens in November.”
