Students may be out of school as the two-week shutdown aimed at slowing the coronavirus outbreak drags on, but there is now a firm finish line for high school seniors in Palmerton Area School District.

During its brief meeting Tuesday night, held by way of video conferencing technology, Palmerton’s board set June 15 as the graduation date for the Class of 2020.

As usual, the ceremony will be held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe and start at 7 p.m.

“That is the solid date,” interim Superintendent Dr. Alan Lonoconus told the board. “It doesn’t matter if we’re in school until June 30.”

Only a handful of Palmerton administrators and board members were at the administration building for Tuesday’s meeting. The rest participated through the Zoom video conferencing app.

Dan Heaney, Palmerton’s technology director, said almost 30 members of the public were signed in through the Zoom app to watch the meeting. No members of the public were in attendance at the administration building.

“We’re grateful that so many of our public are signed in and practicing good social distancing,” board President Kathy Fallow said.

Tamaqua academic plan

Likewise in the Tamaqua Area School District, Superintendent Ray Kinder spoke on another area of concern: What will be the result of the current time off?

“We will not be penalized, but it also has to adhere to part of the law that dictates you can’t go past June 30,” Kinder said.

“Depending on how long the break is, they could say you may or may not have to make up days.”

Kinder also noted that the district is in the middle of preparing an educational program, should the school year not resume after its two-week hiatus.

Justin Carlucci contributed to this report.