In-person graduation ceremony intended to be held July 8
District awaits governor’s decision
District Superintendent Erik Gundersen said that the district intends on hosting an in-person graduation on July 8 if New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy increases outdoor capacity during the Board of Education’s virtual meeting Monday night held on Zoom. During the meeting, Director of Curriculum Barry Bachenheimer was also approved as assistant district superintendent and Cynthia Ackerman as assistant business administrator for the 2020-2021 school year.
District Superintendent Erik Gundersen said that the district intends on hosting an in-person graduation on July 8 if New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy increases outdoor capacity during the Board of Education’s virtual meeting Monday night held on Zoom. The rain date for the ceremony would be July 9.
“If the governor increases capacity at graduation from 25 individuals, to which is where the limitations currently rest, to at least a 100 or more attendees,” Gundersen said, “our Board of Education is positioned to hold a graduation ceremony on the field of Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills.”
Gundersen said that only students would be able to attend an in-person ceremony, but the event would be livestreamed for anyone to witness.
“We don’t anticipate the governor allowing for [guests to attend],” Gundersen said. “If that’s allowable, that’s a plan that our district formulated.”
Gundersen said the BOE is expecting Murphy to follow the other surrounding states, such as New York and Connecticut, by increasing their attendance restrictions.
A graduation parade will take place on June 16 throughout Hillsdale and River Vale, and Gundersen said it will conclude at PV where each graduate’s name will be announced to “symbolize that the student has officially graduated.”
A virtual ceremony video will also be released on June 16 which captures the seniors receiving their diplomas.
During the meeting, Director of Curriculum Barry Bachenheimer was approved as assistant district superintendent and Cynthia Ackerman as assistant business administrator for the 2020-21 school year as well.
Business Administrator Pamela Baxley, Library Media Specialist Peggy White, and instrumental music teacher Joe Zajac were approved by the board to retire at the end of this school year.
In place of recently retired Pamela Baxley, Yas Usami was approved to fulfill the position of Business Administrator and Board Secretary for the 2020-2021. Juliet Fanik was also approved as a mathematics teacher for next school year.
“Part of the things that make our district truly remarkable is the commitment of the teachers, and the administrators, and the librarians, and I am so grateful for the service that we have,” BOE President Tammy Molinelli said.
Abby is a sophomore and has been writing for the publication since she was freshman. She is excited to expand her writing palet further and continue to...
Sarah Buttikofer is a senior who joined the publication during her freshman year as a staff writer. She was an editor during her sophomore year and become...
