Perth Amboy High School holds graduation at 9 a.m. despite complaints

– PERTH AMBOY – Graduation has come and gone, but the parents of this year’s graduates made their feelings about the 9 a.m. time change heard days before the ceremony.

The debate dates back to May when it was announced that Perth Amboy High School’s graduation would be moved from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. on June 27th. High school graduation has been held at 6 p.m. for years, but it was changed this year due to health concerns and potential inclement weather.

Many parents were unaware of the change until last minute and were forced to make difficult choices in order to attend. Elizabeth Morabito–Gonzalez, a mother of five who has spoken out in the past about graduation, once again voiced her concerns with the change and what she would be losing in the process.

“I can’t sleep because I have to think about two different gradations. I can’t afford to lose a paycheck,” Gonzalez said. “Does anybody want to pay my rent? Does anybody want to pay my bills?  I can’t.”

Anthony Bermudez, a parent of another graduating senior, was upset not only with the time change but how the board handled it. He referenced the May 23rd board meeting where Board President Mark Carvajal said he would take a closer look at the change, but nothing ever came out of it.

Audience Members who voiced their displeasure about the graduation time amongst other issues. *Photos by Carolyn Maxwell

“[The decision] was not voted on because, according to the attorney, it was an administrative decision and the board cannot vote on it,” Bermudez said. “This is the same meeting where you, Mr. President, said that you would take a second look at it and get back to us. That meeting was a month ago and I am still waiting for you to get back to me.”

Bermudez also addressed the parents that had not only come out to voice their opinion but also filed petitions to have the decision reversed. He was upset that despite the large public outcry, nothing was done.

“I along with a couple of dedicated people have done everything you, Mr. President, have asked of us in a timely fashion so that we may have an emergent meeting on this because time was scarce,” he continued. “We had gotten hundreds of petitions and surveys filled out with the overwhelming majority of the people who it will affect in favor of the 6 p.m. graduation.”

Parents were also furious over a student poll that took place at Perth Amboy High School the day of the meeting. Dr. Caffrey, Mayor Wilda Diaz, and two board members visited the school asking graduating seniors whether they wanted graduation in the morning or at night.

“This morning there was a poll conducted…the morning of our hearing on the same topic two days prior to graduation,” said Vanessa Rodriguez, a vocal parent against the time change. “It’s a disgusting way to make you look good for all your wrong doing. I urge the community to keep coming out to these meetings and don’t allow such happenings anymore.”

Parents took their fight all the way to Trenton earlier that week when they submitted an appeal to the state education commissioner in June. However, like their plea to the board, the decision to change graduation to 9 a.m. stood.

Despite the decision, board member Milady Tejeda spoke highly of the parents who fought so hard for to see their children graduate.

“Thank you very much for being here tonight. It has been said that nobody cares, but I know the parents of this town do care for their kids and their education,” Tejeda said. “I want everyone to recognize these issues and we have to look at ourselves. We were elected to take care of our community.”

Resident Sharon Hubberman also praised the parents who fought for their cause and took the process all the way to Trenton. She hoped that the board would use this as a building block and resolve some of these issues at their retreat this month.

“These parents care so much they took initiative to bring it to Trenton,” Hubberman said. “We want to see an improvement and certain kind of reform…the way you don’t go about it is by going by one agenda and doing so in a way that is borderline dictatorship.”

The board meeting was continued on June 25th after a fire scare forced the board to cancel the original meeting on the 19th midway through. The board is set to hold their July retreat meeting on July 27th at Perth Amboy High School.

By Joseph L. Kuchie