Adept at Adapting
For local yearbook staffs, capturing the school year amid a pandemic creates interesting challenges
TEXARKANA — Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, schools have had to adjust how they do things in a variety of ways — including how to get their yearbooks out.
Many districts in the area not only had to hustle to get yearbooks out and distributed after schools’ shut down, but they also are having to tweak the yearbook-making process going forward, because of safety regulations.
To get an idea of how each district is handling these processes, the Gazette reached out to the Texarkana, Pleasant Grove and Liberty-Eylau Independent School Districts, as well as the Texarkana Arkansas School District. We received responses from all independent districts.
TISD managed to get last year’s yearbooks out through unique methods after school closures, but had to distribute them a bit later than scheduled.
“When schools closed in March, we had to scramble to get our book finished,” Texas High journalism adviser Rebecca Potter said. “It was a team effort on the part of the editors, along with some staff members and myself. Only a couple of editors had the software available to create or edit pages, so I had to enter a lot of the content myself. Through many emails, texts and Zoom meetings, we were able to finalize the book. However, the printing plant was forced to shut down because of COVID.”
The district distributed last year’s books with a drive-through
“...The staff is exploring ways to cover the year that provide some flexibility for anything else 2020 decides to throw at us.” —Rebecca Potter, Texas High journalism adviser
pickup in early August rather than May, and they are still in the process of getting the ones out that weren’t picked up.
PGISD also had a drivethrough distribution when their yearbooks were delayed by the printing plant shutdown after initially hoping to deliver them before graduation.
“Our goal last fall was to produce a spring delivery yearbook for the very first time, a book that would be delivered before graduation with a supplement that included late spring activities,” PGISD publications adviser and journalism teacher Charla Harris said. “We started getting nervous the first week of March because our final deadline was March 18 and it looked like we might shut down for COVID. The staff really hustled and finished the book March 16, and we went home the next day. The editors took home laptops to work on the supplement and correct page proofs — there were lots of Zoom and FaceTime meetings to talk about problems, and staffers worked from home to get photos and quotes to finish the supplement.
“And then the yearbook printing plant shut down, too. Our books were finally delivered July 17 and we had a drive-by distribution the Friday before school started. The staffers and I sat outside the Performing Arts Center and delivered books to students and parents who drove up in their cars.”
Surprisingly, L-EISD yearbook instructor Cindy Thompson said everything is on schedule for publication.
“Last year’s books actually came in earlier than expected and nothing was delayed,” Thompson said. “We had a few minor changes since we did not have prom. All sporting events had been covered and we had enough pictures to complete each page and spread. We did work through the summer to complete the book since graduation was held at the end of June.”
While the transition was smoother than expected for Liberty-Eylau, yearbook advisers at TISD and PGISD are having to change how they go about gathering information for this year’s yearbook.
“One thing that will change is what we’ll cover in the yearbook,” Harris said. “No pep rallies, no club activities, no trips and limited participation at sporting events leaves a big hole in our coverage. We’re planning the book now and are including a lot more student profile and ‘student life’ coverage — current events, trends, hobbies, life outside of school …”
Harris said PGISD photographers are still shooting games and activities, but with masks and social distancing. More phone and email interviews are being conducted, and they are encouraging students and teachers to submit photos throughout the school year.
At TISD, Potter is having to rethink how we’ve always produced a yearbook.
“With many traditional events canceled or possibly rescheduled for the spring, there are a lot of uncertainties, which makes planning the book difficult,” she said. “Currently, the staff is exploring ways to cover the year that provide some flexibility for anything else 2020 decides to throw at us. Some of the editors attended a virtual workshop during the summer so they could get the book started. Even though there are many changes going on, there is one constant: a yearbook staff dedicated to doing its best to document this year.”
Harris said PGISD is looking forward to the challenge of producing a yearbook in a unique manner.
“I think it’s kind of exciting to do a yearbook in a whole new way, to recreate the book in a sense,” she said. “However, we’re going to have to remember that we still have deadlines while we’re making all these fun changes.”