LVHS moms start a group that leads thousands to petition Cuomo for outdoor graduations

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The Facebook page for New Yorkers for Live Graduations includes a typical graduation photo — a silhouette of students tossing their mortarboards skyward. What was once taken for granted, a graduation with classmates. attended by proud family members and friends, has not been possible during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last week that he was encouraging drive-in graduations, with participants remaining in their vehicles for the entire ceremony, or drive-through graduations, for which there were several guidelines from the state Department of Health, including:  

"Students, and only immediate family members who reside in the same household, should arrive by assigned time and leave after their individual recognition. Individual students may come to the school at prearranged times, may exit the car individually, in their cap and gown if available, to walk across a stage in their cap and gown and have a photo taken. However single-direction flow should be marked to cross the graduation stage or take a photo, and the standing locations of graduates waiting to cross the graduation stage or take a photo must be clearly marked to ensure all individuals remain at least six feet apart at all times."  

The Health Department had several other detailed directives for virtual ceremonies and videos. And all social gatherings were restricted to 10 people, including graduations.

It was too much, said New Yorkers for Live Graduations' co-founder Margaret Marchand, who is also a member of the Locust Valley Board of Education. She and two other Locust Valley High School parents of graduating seniors, Maureen Liantonio and Laureen Shriberg started the Facebook group on June 5. Fifty people immediately joined, and started a petition, to be given to Cuomo, requesting that outdoor graduations be permitted. 

Two days later, Cuomo reversed his decision, and said that outdoor high school graduations of up to 150 people would be allowed starting June 26, provided that social-distancing protocols are observed. 

Marchand said the governor's suggestion still wasn't workable. The majority of graduating classes exceed 150, she said. Locust Valley has 179. She said she wondered if the cap of 150 included administrators, teachers and parents. 

"The number of 150 is arbitrary," said Marchand, who has twin boys graduating.  "On June 26 camps will be open and there is no capacity there. There is no limitation on the number of people at a beach, just limiting the cars. Our argument has been the districts are prepared. Cuomo's guidelines are vague. Where did he come up with 150 people?"

By the evening of June 7, New Yorkers for Live Graduations had gathered 2,000 signatures. And as of Wednesday, they had 6,200 signatures and more than 2,400 members from across the state. Their goal is to have the 150 limit rescinded.  They have reached out to Cuomo each day since the group formed sending their petition, but Marchand said they have not heard back yet.   

Assemblyman Michael Montesano, a Republican from Glen Head, said members of the Assembly had petitioned Cuomo for outdoor graduation a few days before June 7. 

"The governor came up with a plan that was disappointing," said Montesano, adding that they petitioned the governor again on Tuesday. "Schools can manage this. They have fields. A lot of times we don't get a response from the governor, it's announced on TV. This is so frustrating for the kids."    

A survey was given to the seniors in early May that asked what was most important to them. Shriberg, who is also a co-president of the high school's Parent Council, said the students overwhelmingly said they wanted to graduate together. 

"These kids that can't walk at their graduation on Saturday are allowed to work on Monday," she said. "It's not fair and is not based on science. Someone needs to listen to the kids."

What frustrates Shriberg most is that people are allowed to gather in stores, without a limitation. "I can be in Target with over 179 people but I can't be with 179 socially distanced kids?" she asked. "The kids did what was right, stayed home and helped flatten the curve. They deserve to be heard."

All districts have plans in place, Marchand said. But those plans can change. "The districts want to follow the law and can't defy their boss," she said. "We're publicly funded. The 150 number limitation has handcuffed all school districts."

Marchand said a graduation would help the seniors experience closure. The schools closed abruptly in March. If a graduation was held outdoors with all of the students, Marchand reasoned, the teens would be together one last time.  

Because Locust Valley High School has 179 students graduating, the district would have to have four graduations to allow for two spectators to comply with the governor's capacity restrictions. There really are no alternatives, Marchand said. 

"If we did a drive through instead they wouldn't be able to get out of their cars," she said. "These children have earned their degrees." 

On Friday the seniors will attend a senior send-off at the high school in their cars. They will stop at different spots to get their yearbook and a swag box — a keepsake box filled with decorations for their cars when they take part in the June 23 graduation parade. There will be a cow bell, pens, a letter from an alumni and a green and white cookie. 

Friday would have been the last day of school for the seniors, and they would have gone to the prom that night.