With Staff Vaccinated, Vernon Ed Officials Turn To New Grad Date

VERNON, CT — With the teachers and staff getting their second coronavirus shots last week, the focus this week for the Vernon public school system is a change in graduation, student vaccines and maybe even bringing all students back full-time.

That was the word Monday afternoon from Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary.

Teachers and staff members who elected to have the shots had their second doses last Thursday, just in time for the long-weekend Easter break. School was back in session Monday with students on their regular schedules.

Macary was to present a June 10 graduation date to the Vernon Board of Education Monday night. The last day of school is June 11, and that is the traditional day of graduation, but Project Graduation officials asked for the change because Sonny's Place in Somers was booked for June 11, he said.

Moving the graduation to June 10 will allow the students to attend the project graduation even there after the commencement ceremonies, Macary said.

Macary said is is working on several plans for school schedules for the remainder of the academic year.

He said education officials are also working on plans to give students vaccination options. The first priority will be those who have turned 18, Macary said. Vaccination options for students ages 17 and 16 would be subject to the availability of the Pfizer vaccine, which is approved for the age group, he said.