Skoufis, Senate Colleagues Push for July High School Graduation Ceremonies

Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), along with many of his colleagues in the Senate Majority, sent a letter earlier today to the Governor urging that guidance be developed to permit outdoor, in-person, socially distant high school graduation ceremonies starting in July.

Yesterday, New Jersey’s Governor announced that his state will allow outdoor, in-person, high school graduation ceremonies starting July 6. In the letter to Governor Cuomo, the Senators asserted that as long as social distancing is maintained and public health guidelines are followed, including mask-wearing, New York State ought to provide students with the meaningful opportunity to graduate with their classmates.

Senator James Skoufis said, “It’s ever-important that public health practices be maintained as we move to provide New Yorkers the meaningful opportunities they deserve like graduation ceremonies. These students have persevered and finished school through incredibly challenging circumstances that none of us have ever previously experienced; we have an obligation to ensure they are adequately recognized and have an opportunity to celebrate together before they start the next chapter of their lives. While public health precautions remain paramount - and there must be zero-tolerance enforcement of social distancing and mask-wearing at these events - our students deserve a proper, safe commencement day.”

Senator Skoufis remains committed to assisting our students and schools throughout the pandemic. In Albany, he is fighting to preserve school funding against the prospect of cuts; in our district, he is working directly with education stakeholders to ensure they have the support they need from our Senate office.

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