Gov. Murphy To Announce Guidance On Live NJ Graduations

TRENTON, NJ — With each step to reopen portions of New Jersey amid the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a growing chorus of people calling for Gov. Phil Murphy to permit live graduation ceremonies.

On Friday, Murphy gave an indication that might very well be in the works, as he announced an increase in the size of outdoor gatherings to 25 people during his daily coronavirus briefing.

Murphy suggested that he may make an announcement and provide guidance on live graduations as early as Tuesday.

"The hope for those who want to have some sort of an outdoor properly socially distant graduation ceremony ... is well-placed," Murphy said. "I'm hopeful that early week we can offer guidance on outdoor graduations."

Murphy indicated Friday that he is hopeful of some kind of live ceremonies as well.

"We want to get this right," Murphy said. "This is a big gathering and it has to be done right."

Murphy's statements came as he eased restrictions on gatherings on Friday. Read more: Read more: Gov. Murphy Allows Bigger Gatherings, More Coronavirus Reopenings

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Graduations, especially high school graduations, have been a hot topic across the country. While some have argued that holding any form of in-person ceremony could help spread the virus, dozens of parents and graduating seniors have created petitions and called on their governors and health commissioners to allow them.

The issue has stirred debate in New Jersey since April, when Murphy first extended the closure of schools across the state in the ongoing fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus. He closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on May 2.

Soon after, the issuance of a letter from New Jersey State Police Col. Patrick Callahan on May 9 telling school districts to plan on virtual graduations angered a number of parents and students who had hoped for the in-person ceremonies.

That was clarified the following day, but as other measures have eased, including allowing people to go to the beach, the pressure has increased for in-person graduations sooner, rather than in August as Murphy has suggested, or even as "in-car" celebrations, which have met with mixed reactions.

Howell Mayor Theresa Berger, who is a doctor, started a petition urging Murphy to allow in-person graduations.

"As a medical doctor, I don't deal with politics — my job is to take care of patients and provide medical services ... and as the Mayor of Howell, I don't care what political party the governor. He is wrong on this issue of graduations," said Berger, a Democrat. "I strongly believe we can have graduations responsibly, with social distancing, in a big outdoor area."

Her petition is one of more than a dozen in New Jersey on Change.org. One started in March has nearly 35,000 signatures, another started by a parent two weeks ago has more than 57,000 signatures.

"Graduating from high school is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone that must not be missed," said Sen. Troy Singleton, a Democrat who represents New Jersey's 7th District. "These students have grown up together, worked hard together, studied together, and trained together for four years, and this accomplishment should be celebrated publicly."

"I am confident that our school districts can accommodate socially-distanced, outdoor ceremonies that are appropriate and deserving recognitions of this occasion," he said.

Sen. Declan O'Scanlon and Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso, Republicans from the 13th District, have drafted legislation to allow live graduation ceremonies.

"Honestly, we shouldn’t have to legislate common sense," O'Scanlon said. "A football field or other outdoor stadium is plenty of room for most size graduation ceremonies. There are plenty of logical, innovative ways that parents and school officials have proposed to make this happen safely, the government just needs to get out of the way."

A group of Toms River high school seniors and their parents also have filed a lawsuit in Ocean County Superior Court, saying Murphy's executive order and the specific guidance so far on graduations a violation of their constitutional right to assemble under the First Amendment.

The students "have earned the right to attend a socially distanced formal graduation ceremony," says the lawsuit, which is scheduled to be heard by a judge on May 29. Read more: Toms River Students, Businesses Sue To Overturn Murphy's Orders

The students' lawsuit provided a suggestion for how an in-person graduation might be accommodated, based on the spacing that was used for the U.S. Air Force Academy's graduation that was held April 18, complete with a diagram for a football field with spaced-out seating.

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

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