Gilmore Rallies Behind Township’s Students and Parents

Gilmore Rallies Behind Township’s Students and Parents Seeks Commissioner’s Intervention to Reverse County Superintendent’s Decision to Postpone Hamilton’s High School Graduations Mayor Waiting on Commissioner’s Decision

(Hamilton, New Jersey)  “This is a terrible lesson in bureaucracy,� said Hamilton Mayor Glen D. Gilmore as he blasted a decision of  the County Superintendent to postpone all Hamilton graduation ceremonies from a Friday, on which they had been scheduled, to the following Monday, to meet what the Superintendent believes are State requirements on minimum school day attendance.  Gilmore is now waiting on a decision, which he expects today, from the New Jersey Commissioner of the Department of Education, Lucille E. Davy.

“One of the greatest joys of this day for students is that it’s a celebration that brings families together, with many out-of-state family members already having made costly plans to travel to the Township for the graduation ceremonies,� said Gilmore.  Gilmore has reached out to the Mercer County Superintendent, Michael K. Klavon, to ask that his decision be reversed.  Gilmore noted that the Superintendent rejected the Mayor’s plea, so he then called and spoke with the New Jersey Commissioner of the Department of Education, Lucille E. Davy, who promised Gilmore that she would get back to him with her decision as soon as possible. 

       “The prospect of our students having grandparents or other family members miss this once-in-a-lifetime graduation ceremony is unacceptable,� said Gilmore.

            “Graduating from high school is a rite of passage into adulthood, and depriving family members from being part of this very important day because of red tape is ridiculous,� said the Mayor. 

Representatives from the Legislative Office of New Jersey Department of Education said that schools are required to hold 180 days of school each year, noted Gilmore, “but there are simply no restrictions to prevent the school from holding graduation ceremonies before or after the 180th day,� said Gilmore, “and this problem needs to be fixed immediately so families can rest assure that they’ll be able to attend their students’ graduation ceremony.�