Wayne Valley Seniors Host In-Person Graduation

WAYNE, NJ — While Mayor Christopher Vergano was being sued by Gov. Phil Murphy, and a Mercer County Superior Court judge was issuing an injunction to stop the town-facilitated graduations, it seems like Wayne Valley seniors were planning.

On social media Thursday evening, tweets and Facebook posts began circulating, showing the 2020 graduating class on their football field, celebrating graduation together.

A video posted to Facebook pans the entire length of the field, showing graduates sporting cap and gown forming a line down the middle.

"No teachers, no establishment, just a bunch of brazen kids who are going to graduate no matter what. God bless them," said the videographer.

According to TapInto, Wayne Valley Student Council President Kevin Feeney, along with Jordan Kennedy were the masters of ceremony, and Jackie Tkaczenko kicked things off with a singing of the National Anthem.

Not everyone who got word of the event was happy about it. One Twitter user posted that the lack of social distancing, and a disregard for masks, was a "slap in the face" to healthcare workers.

The school did post a virtual graduation ceremony to YouTube on Thursday, and the Board of Education has planned another, in-person ceremony for July 30.

This in-person ceremony comes after Vergano and the township were sued by Gov. Phil Murphy, and a Mercer County Superior Court judge issued an injunction against Wayne Township to put a halt on the township-facilitated graduations for Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills High School.

Vergano addressed the lawsuit, and subsequent ruling, in a letter to the township.

"Throughout, our only goal was to assist the children of our community in having a meaningful celebration. This was never about me, as the Mayor, the Board of Education or the Governor. This was and still remains only about one thing…the Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills Classes of 2020. Unfortunately, the courts have ruled, and the celebrations will not take place this week," he wrote.

The Board of Education has scheduled a graduation ceremony for July 30, and Vergano spoke to criticism levied at the board for the timing of the graduation.

"For those of you bashing the Board of Education for not having a graduation yet: their hands are tied. There's nothing they can do," he said.

According to TapInto, the decision to halt graduations came after Murphy had mentioned the township, and the planned graduations, during a news conference last week, using the opportunity to remind people that in-person ceremonies are not allowed until July.

"I know Wayne was looking to do a graduation ceremony next week. The good news is it appears to be organized in the way we want it; the bad news is we are not allowing them until July 6," said Murphy.

Vergano announced the guidelines for graduations on June 11, which he said the town would be facilitating.

"We have agreed to step in and hold graduation ceremonies since the Board of Education is unable to due to the fact that the state-established guidelines make it virtually impossible to hold a meaningful graduation ceremony," said Vergano, in a June 9 letter to the township.

"We are acting in their place because we can and, the bottom line is our graduates, who have been working toward this day since kindergarten, deserve it."

The graduations were scheduled for June 18 and June 19 prior to news of the cancellation.