Central Regional Holds Out Hope For Proms, Graduation

BERKELEY, NJ — Central Regional's superintendent moved the dates for junior and senior prom while holding out hope for high school graduation. But whether and how each event can occur will hinge on Governor Phil Murphy lifting new-coronavirus restrictions, says Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides.

Junior prom was moved to May 29, while senior prom was pushed to June 16. The District is planning high school graduation, but officials are awaiting necessary social distancing guidelines for the event.

Parlapanides wrote the following on the Central Regional School District Facebook page:

"The thing we have to remember is there is still a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people. This needs to be lifted in order for anything to happen. The Governor needs to lift this. We do have plans and once we get all the approvals we will reveal the plans. We also have to realize that I am heart broken that students might miss their proms and graduation but I have a student that lost a parent because of this virus. We need to put things in perspective and appreciate the things we have."

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Phil Murphy announced Monday that students would not return to school this year. The governor cast doubts last month on whether graduation events would be feasible. Read more: Gov. Murphy Casts Doubt On NJ Graduations Due To Coronavirus

"I wouldn't put any nonrefundable checks down on your celebrations right now," he said. "It's hard to say otherwise. I'm hope I'm wrong but I fear that I am not."

Murphy's announcement also ended the possibility of a 2020 spring high school sports season. Central Regional Athletic Director John Scran wrote a letter Tuesday to student athletes.

"To our seniors: Thank you for everything you have done during your years at CR," Scran wrote. "You have represented Central Regional with the utmost class and sportsmanship."

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 473 coronavirus cases and 56 deaths in Berkeley as of Tuesday afternoon.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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