All schools in Indiana will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year, by order of Gov. Eric Holcomb, Duneland Schools Assistant Superintendent Robert McDermott announced to parents in an e-mail late on Thursday.

Remote learning will continue on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (with the exception of April 10 and May 25) until the end of the school year.

In a separate e-mail to the parents of Chesterton High School students, Principal Brent Martinson stated the following:

"All high school seniors on track to graduate before school buildings were closed will be provided with the flexibility they need to earn an Indiana diploma. We will be releasing information about all DSC and Chesterton High School end-of-the-year activities (prom, graduation, etc.) as soon as plans are finalized.

“I want to tell the seniors that we are devastated, as you are, by the latest development regarding the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. We understand that the traditions of prom, senior banquets, and a graduation ceremony are events that have a lifetime of memories for you. Although I cannot guarantee the continuation of these events at this time, I can guarantee you that we will do whatever we can to keep these memories intact for the students and our community.

‘Stay strong and remember: If you can believe it, you can achieve it!”