BUCYRUS — Plans for Bucyrus High School DECA students to attend their annual career development conference in Columbus were derailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the group became one of many school organizations affected by the outbreak.
DECA teacher Jeff Funigiello said he learned just days before that the two-day event March 13-14 at the Hyatt Regency downtown was cancelled due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.
Eighteen students, who have spent all school year preparing for the competition, were notified, Funigiello said.
“They put in a lot of work to prepare for this and to kind of get the plug pulled just a few days before is tough news,” he said.
The decision was made by the career and technical organization’s executive council after Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine declared a state of emergency in Ohio due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The Ohio Department of Education, Business Professionals of America, Ohio Association and Ohio DECA remain committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its members,” the DECA State Advisor said in an email to the schools.
In lieu of the conference, possible competitive alternatives are being discussed.
“We recognize this is not an ideal situation, but the safety and well-being of members, volunteers and staff is our top priority,” the advisor said.
Funigiello, who has taught DECA at Bucyrus for 20 years, said his students are incredibly disappointed.
“It’s just one more way this is going,” he said, “but I also know that there’s a lot of value put into the decision process.”
It is not known if the international competition in Nashville, Tenn., will still be held in April, Funigiello said. DECA, formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America, has more than 200,000 members.