Bill Text: NJ AR162 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Governor to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 15-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [AR162 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR162-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAY WEBBER
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Governor to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Governor to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whereas, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 107 which required all New Jersey residents to stay at home until further notice; and
Whereas, This Statewide stay-at-home order forced all public and private schools and colleges throughout the State to close for the duration of the school year; and
Whereas, Schools have had to adapt their entire curriculums to provide online education and ensure that New Jersey students will be able to meet matriculation requirements throughout this unprecedented time; and
Whereas, Thousands of high school seniors will be graduating from New Jersey high schools this spring; and
Whereas, Graduating students have been forced to be flexible and remain positive while having to miss many of the senior year milestones they have looked forward to for their entire high school careers; and
Whereas, As a result of mandatory social distancing guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19, graduating students have been forced to miss senior proms, senior banquets, their final varsity sports seasons, senior trips, and the students have been unable to spend their final months in high school with their fellow students and friends; and
Whereas, Graduation remains the final milestone in graduating students' high school careers and many students and teachers hope graduation ceremonies will be able to continue to take place; and
Whereas, Graduation ceremonies serve as the culmination of education and as an important transition point for graduating students; and
Whereas, After graduation, graduated students will continue upon diverse paths into futures that may include higher education, the military, and various fields of work; and
Whereas, Graduation ceremonies are a time for students to celebrate their educational accomplishments, a time for parents to recognize the efforts and hard work of their children, and a time for teachers to see the students they have educated enter the next stage of their lives; and
Whereas, Graduation ceremonies are among the most important and memorable milestones of graduating students' high school careers; and
Whereas, It is possible to hold open air high school graduation ceremonies that observe social distancing and other COVID-19 related safety protocols; and
Whereas, Especially in the time of a pandemic, New Jersey needs events and occasions that create and foster a sense of pride, community, and hope; and
Whereas, Tens of thousands of capable, devoted, resilient, and resourceful school officials, teachers, school board members, parents, and students stand ready to make the necessary preparations for safe and responsible graduation ceremonies across the State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Governor to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing and other appropriate safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Governor to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor Murphy issued Executive Order 107 which required all New Jersey residents to stay at home until further notice. This Statewide stay-at-home order forced all public and private schools and colleges throughout the State to close for the duration of the school year. Schools have had to adapt their entire curriculums to provide online education and ensure that graduating students will still be able to meet matriculation requirements throughout this unprecedented time.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students have had to miss many of the senior year milestones they have looked forward to for their entire high school careers such as senior proms, senior banquets, their final varsity sports seasons, and senior trips. These graduating students have had to remain flexible and positive during this difficult time. Many students hope that graduation, their final and most important, high school milestone will not be cancelled.
Graduation ceremonies serve as the culmination of education and as an important transition point for high school students. After graduation, graduated students will follow diverse paths into futures that may include higher education, the military, and various fields of work. Graduation ceremonies are a time for students to celebrate their educational accomplishments, a time for parents to recognize the efforts and hard work of their children, and a time for teachers to see the students they have mentored for four years enter the next stage of their lives. For these reasons, the Governor is urged to allow high school graduations to occur with proper social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
