25-Person Limit Obstacle For Black Horse Pike School Graduations

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, 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 doesn’t appear to have made things any easier for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District.

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 Wednesday night, thestate education department released rules that limit the gathering size at the time the ceremonies are held. Read more: NJ In-Person Graduations: Here Are The New Rules Amid Coronavirus

It is this rule, which limits gatherings to 25 people, that will continue to make designing these ceremonies difficult, Black Horse Pike Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Repici said in an email.

“With 300 graduates per high school, a 25-person limitation makes designing ceremonies very difficult,” Repici said.

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The district is made up of three high schools — Highland, Timber Creek and Triton — for a district wide graduating class of about 900 students. Their tentative graduation date is currently set for July 23. Read more here: Black Horse Pike Superintendent Awaits Graduation Details

Murphy has said that the number of people permitted at a gathering will likely increase by July 6.

"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."

With reporting by Karen Wall, Patch Staff

See related: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know