ALBANY COUNTY — Last Thursday, June 4, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that schools will be allowed to hold drive-through graduation ceremonies and also graduation exercises at drive-in theaters.

On Sunday, June 7, he announced that outdoor, socially-distanced graduations of up to 150 people will be allowed beginning June 26, subject to any outbreaks or significant changes in COVID-19 metrics.

Locally, Voorheesville changed its original plans for a drive-through ceremony on its campus on June 26 to also include an in-person component.

Superintendent Frank Macri said on Wednesday the ceremony will take place at the school district’s New Salem Road large satellite athletic field. Only the 91 graduating students will be allowed on the field — where they will be seated six feet away from one another — while parents will have to remain in their cars and continue to follow all of the rules that were put in place when the district had planned on a drive-in graduation ceremony, Macri said.

Per state guidelines, bathrooms will be restricted but available for use and will be sanitized after every use, Macri said. Students won’t have to wear masks while they are at their seats but will have to wear them when they walk to the stage to receive their diplomas.

Guilderland will be doing both a drive-in and a walk-through ceremony: Graduates will watch a video of their graduation ceremony at the Jericho Drive-In on June 20 and then, a week later, will walk across a stage set up in front of their high school to collect their diplomas.

With 379 graduates, Guilderland would have to hold 10 or 12 ceremonies to accommodate families under the 150-person limit, the high school principal said, so the school is sticking to its original plan. (See related story.)

Berne-Knox-Westerlo will hold its commencement ceremony on June 25 at the Jericho Drive-In.

“I know a lot of graduates are disappointed ...,” the governor said at his briefing last Thursday. “We’re going to keep evaluating. I get this”

He said his daughter, Michaela, graduated from college this year so he understands that not to have ceremonies is painful. “As soon as we can do it, we will,” he said. “If there’s a way drive-ins or drive-throughs can be helpful, I hope that makes a difference in the meantime.”

Both Guilderland and Voorheesville held parades this past week with students in decorated cars being saluted by their teachers at Guilderland and by the community in Voorheesville.

North Colonie Central School District Superintendent D. Joseph Corr spoke at Friday’s county press briefing about that school’s plans for a drive-through graduation on campus June 27.

Students and parents “overwhelming” chose the drive-through option over a “virtual option,” said Corr. 

“We feel it’s a fitting end for our seniors,” Corr said. “They get to come back to their campus one more time … They get to leave with their diploma.”

Students will be in separate cars with their families, he said, and cars must be six feet apart. “We will maintain social distancing,” said Corr.

Directives from the state’s Department of Health state that students and families without vehicles would need to be provided alternative accommodations and transportation that complies with social-distancing requirements. 

Other stipulations from the state allow students to walk across a stage, in cap and gown, and have their picture taken but they must stay six feet apart.

Any high-touch surfaces, like a podium or handrail, must be frequently cleaned and disinfected and there must not be person-to-person contact, like hand-shaking, during the celebration.

Diplomas, or any other items, can only be handed from one designated individual (for example, a superintendent or principal) to students if they are wearing a face covering and either using gloves or applying hand sanitizer between touching of objects.

All people attending the ceremony must wear face masks, the directives say, although students may remove their masks or face coverings while crossing the award area or having their individual photo taken by the district or school.

State directives also allow for an individualized ceremony in which school officials would visit each graduate’s home, while remaining outside and at least six feet away, to congratulate and take photos of each graduate in their cap and gown and holding their diploma.

No refreshments can be served at graduation ceremonies and, to prevent congregating, bathroom facilities are to be used only for emergencies.

Many people had reached out to his office about graduation exercises, said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, adding that local school superintendents “have been on top of it.”

— Sean Mulkerrin provided information on the Voorheesville graduation.