June 8: Updates on Graduation and Budget Vote

Dear HCS Community:

I hope that you were able to enjoy the sunshine this past weekend, and wanted to take a minute to pass along a few recent updates. Because we know that information related to COVID-19 continues to evolve by the day, the following reflects a number of changes related to recent Executive Orders issued by Governor Cuomo.  

Commencement Ceremonies

First, the Governor announced that graduation ceremonies will be allowed as of June 26, 2020.  The Governor identified three key conditions that must be met:

• Ceremonies will be limited to a total of 150 people (graduates, attendees and employees).
• They must be held outdoors.
• There must be social distancing.

Governor Cuomo stipulated that graduations are permissible moving forward, unless the COVID-19 numbers shift upwards.

This is good news for HCS. Mrs. Klaehn and I met this morning to calibrate our thinking surrounding Commencement. Subsequently, Mrs. Klaehn facilitated a meeting with her Class of 2020 Task Force and has also scheduled a meeting later this week with our Class of 2020 seniors and their families. We hope to have definitive information surrounding Graduation 2020 on June 26, with identified rain dates, to share with the community by week's end. 

Budget Vote and BOE Elections

Second, the Governor announced that he will issue an extension of time for qualified voters to submit their ballots. As you are aware, school budget votes and BOE elections this year are being conducted by absentee ballot in lieu of in-person voting. Pursuant to the Governor's order, to be counted, school budget ballots can be accepted by hand delivery through 5pm on June 9th and received by mail through June 16th by the school district. 

As always, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this information or otherwise.  Thank you for your support and partnership in doing what is best for students!

Warmest regards,

E. Bridget Ashton
 

Elizabeth Bridget Ashton