NJ In-Person Graduation Rules Frustrate Freehold Regional Super

FREEHOLD, NJ — The release of guidance giving New Jersey school districts three options for graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic was met with frustration from some superintendents in the state.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday that in-person graduation ceremonies could be held beginning July 6, outdoors and with social distancing in place, warning that for some districts it could mean the need for multiple ceremonies.

On Thursday, as school officials digested the guidelines from the state Department of Education, they expressed frustrations over what they said was a lack of clear direction.

Charles Sampson, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District, acknowledged the coronavirus crisis has presented many challenges for schools. "(There are) no easy answers with (the) COVID-19 crisis," he said in a tweet Wednesday evening, "but in 13 years as a superintendent I have never seen so much dumped to schools to fend for themselves with limited, shifting, convoluted or zero guidance."

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The rules released Wednesday night by the education department tell districts ceremonies will be limited to the permitted gathering size at the time the ceremonies are held. Read more: NJ In-Person Graduations: Here Are The New Rules Amid Coronavirus

That limit, currently 25 people, is seen as an impediment to graduations particularly for schools with large graduating classes. But Murphy said the number of people permitted at a gathering will likely increase by July 6.

"I'll be shocked if it's 25 or even close to 25 by July 6," he said. Murphy acknowledged that school districts need advance notice to plan adequately, especially those districts that could be faced with multiple ceremonies.

"We want to give them notice, we get that," Murphy said. "I'm just not going to do it today, because it's 39 days out and we don't have to, number one, and number two, Judy and Ed and I don't have the information we would want to have to be intelligent about that."

Murphy's announcement allowing modified in-person graduations followed a few weeks of back-and-forth about what might happen. After he announced May 4 that schools would be doing remote learning for the remainder of the academic year, questions about graduation increased. On May 9, Col. Patrick Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, issued a letter saying "wave parades" or similar celebrations for graduating seniors were not permitted. Two days later, Callahan and Murphy reversed course and approved wave parades. On May 13, drive-in graduations were approved.

Wednesday evening's guidance said drive-in graduations were only permitted beginning July 6 — a change from what districts previously had understood. After questions were raised at Thursday's coronavirus conference, the guidance was updated again Thursday evening to note that drive-in graduation ceremonies could be held at any time, as can virtual graduations.

"Virtual graduation ceremonies offer a number of ways to celebrate this year’s graduating class," state education officials said. "DOE recommends that districts take full advantage of virtual ceremonies, which are the safest alternative graduation ceremony at this time."

"We can all plan for anything. We just need a guiding path," said Eric M. Hibbs, superintendent of the Marlboro Township Public Schools. "No organization can thrive attempting to successfully design so many paths at once trying to make the best decisions for our staff, students and community with no guidance."

Murphy has repeatedly said that all of the decisions on reopening will be driven by the data, with the number of hospitalizations a prime concern. Reopening of beaches and boardwalks — frequently cited by those pushing for in-person graduations — was done with capacity limits and other restraints, Murphy said Thursday. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

"When you're on a football field, it's only 100 yards long and 50 yards wide plus the end zones," he said. "You are confined to that space, and we just gotta make sure we do it right."

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