Many school districts across New York state say Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new rules for outdoor graduations aren’t realistic and only bring more confusion and disappointment to high school seniors.
Allowing only 150 people to attend outdoor high school graduations after June 26 doesn’t work for most school districts, as they have large graduating classes and want to include family and staff in the ceremony.
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon feels their pain, as he called the governor’s plan “incomplete.” He also pointed out that a limit of 150 makes it hard for many.
"Graduation is a complicated topic,'' he said Monday.
Cuomo announced Sunday school districts across New York state could hold outside graduation ceremonies for students of up to 150 people beginning June 26, with social distancing rules.
But the announcement wasn’t meant with a lot of enthusiasm. Instead, many districts are forging ahead with their previous plans, hoping the rules change down the road and they can hold a second inclusive ceremony.
Take the Syracuse City School District, for example. With hundreds of seniors, the new rules don’t give them any relief.
“Unfortunately, for a district of our size, that number (150 people) is less than some of our graduating classes, so that is not a feasible or realistic option,'' said Mike Henesey, spokesperson for the district. "Even with our smallest high school, we would have to hold two to three separate ceremonies to accommodate graduates, family members and staff from one school.”
Others agree.
The North Syracuse Central School District, which has 615 graduating seniors, said the 150 limit would mean holding at least six ceremonies, if not more, to accommodate graduates, their families and staff.
So North Syracuse will stick with plans for an in-person drive-up ceremony on June 25 and a virtual televised event the next day. But the district has reserved July 24 as a backup date in case the governor allows larger groups by then, said Laurie Cook, speaking for the district.
East Syracuse-Minoa, with 238 graduates, has already started four days of outdoor by-appointment ‘graduations,’ with each senior allowed to bring eight family members to the stadium to watch him or her get a diploma. The process is filmed, and will be put together in a virtual ceremony, to be aired June 25.
Jamesville-DeWitt, while also filming individual students getting diplomas, is working to hold a more traditional outdoor ceremony June 28. How that will work is still being assessed and developed, district officials said.
"Things change hourly,'' said Paul Gasparini, J-D High School principal.
District officials said if larger gatherings are allowed, they may hold another ceremony in July or August.
Smaller districts like Cazenovia, with 102 graduates, said the are still looking at options but have "more hope than we had last week,'' said Superintendent Matt Reilly.
McMahon said his office has heard “loud and clear from seniors and parents" that they want a traditional ceremony.
Phase four of the reopening, which might not be far away, should allow for large gatherings again. And McMahon acknowledged that mass gatherings (specifically, the weekend Black Lives Matter protests) are happening daily now, and there hasn’t been a spike in coronavirus cases.
“We need to be practical now,” McMahon said, of allowing bigger graduations.
He said there’s been some movement in talks with the state, and he’s hoping for more.
Syracuse City School District parent Jessica Rogala, whose daughter, Katie, is a senior at Henninger, wants to see the rules changed to allow more people.
Many of the students "live in a community of poverty, come from single parent homes, they have violence in their communities and many have to fight many obstacles just to succeed through high school,'' she said. “Our city has about a 64% graduation rate, these kids have looked forward to this day for years, they have already missed out on all of their senior activities and they deserve to have a “normal” as possible graduation.”
Nottingham senior Jalen Owens agrees.
"How can you have that many people at a protest and not allow more than 150 at a graduation,'' he said. “It doesn’t seem fair.”
Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or email edoran@syracuse.com
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Cuomo’s in-person graduations of 150 people ‘not realistic’ for many school districts; some in limbo - syracuse.com
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