NJ Issues COVID Rules For Graduations, Other School Activities

NEW JERSEY — State officials have issued some specific rules and guidance on traditional end-of-year school activities, including awards ceremonies, graduations and proms, now that Gov. Phil Murphy has eased restrictions on indoor gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic (see list below).

The guidelines and rules include: For in-person ceremonies, institutions must limit the number of attendees based on state gathering rules effective on the date of the ceremony. Chairs and other equipment should not be shared, must be sanitized before and after use, and must be spaced at least 6 feet apart.

On Monday, Murphy announced increasing indoor gathering limits to 50 percent, with a maximum capacity of 250 people. The change takes effect May 10, before many proms are scheduled to take place.

The events must also adhere to the protocols for indoor and outdoor dining, the state Department of Education said. Dance floors will also be permitted to open, with mask-wearing and social distancing in place. Read more here: NJ Eases COVID-19 Rules For Proms, Graduations, Other Activities

This could pave the way for school districts to hold more traditional proms. Many districts have not yet made decisions, although officials at a school district in South Jersey had been considering holding their prom without dancing. Read more here: No Dancing At Senior Prom, NJ School Tells Seniors

For graduations and awards ceremonies, school districts and institutions of higher learning will have the option of using a large venue with a fixed seating capacity, the DOE and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) said. They don’t need to count faculty, staff, and graduates when considering seating capacity, but they do have to count all other members of the general public.

Districts “may also want to consider holding smaller ceremonies throughout the day or over the span of several days to limit crowds, allowing for cleaning in between ceremonies, and allowing the attendees to leave the venue before the next group arrives. This could include, for example, dividing a large graduating class and conducting separate graduation ceremonies,” the DOE and OSHE said.

OSHE also strongly advises colleges and universities to hold outdoor ceremonies.

Either way, public schools and colleges and universities are advised to have a backup plan in place, and make potential attendees aware of these plans, should the guidance change again.

They should also keep local emergency management, law enforcement, first responders, local elected officials, and local health agencies informed of their plans for these ceremonies.

Already an alliance of 22 mayors is asking Murphy to waive outdoor gathering limits for graduations, with Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench calling them one of life's "few seminal moments." Read more here: 22 NJ Mayors Urge Murphy To Cut Outdoor Limits For Graduation

With or without limits, schools will be expected to follow health and safety protocols that are in effect for the date of the ceremony, the DOE said. That includes wearing masks, which will still be necessary for large outdoor gatherings, even under the new guidance issued by the CDC on Tuesday. Read more here: ‘Expect’ NJ To Follow New CDC COVID Mask Guidance

Other specifics from the DOE concerning graduations include:

• Chairs and other equipment should not be shared, must be sanitized before and after use, and must be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
• Schools should be proactive and clear in communicating event guidelines to those planning to attend. Information could be displayed on digital screens or distributed via e-mail in advance of the ceremony, for example.
• Individuals who are sick should be discouraged from attending. Prospective attendees should be advised to consider current guidelines from the NJDOH and CDC regarding high-risk categories and necessary precautions.
• Institutions should provide approved sanitization materials for employees, students, and visitors.
• In-person ceremonies are strongly encouraged to be held outdoors due to the potential for challenges with social distancing, decreased air flow and the higher risk of transmission in indoor settings.
• Institutions should share the New Jersey Department of Health's current travel advisories for potential attendees who might be traveling from out-of-state.
• Institutions may want to consider dividing into smaller ceremonies held throughout the day or over the span of several days to limit crowds, allow for cleaning in between ceremonies, and to allow the attendees to leave the venue before the next group arrives. This could include, for example, conducting separate ceremonies for different majors, etc.
• In-person ceremonies will require monitoring of the number of people in attendance. Organizers should consider distributing tickets to students and families in advance of the ceremony or consider digital options and contactless scanners.
• Require all guests, graduates, and participants to wear face coverings.