High school students in Wayne held their own unofficial graduation ceremony Thursday night, despite Gov. Phil Murphy’s orders.

 

The town announced last week that Wayne Hills High School’s graduation was to be held last night, and Wayne Valley High School’s graduation would be held tonight, but it was canceled and moved to next month after a judge issued an injunction against the ceremonies. In-person graduation ceremonies are not allowed until July 6 under the governor’s executive order.

The graduations were supposed to be held in the parking lot of the Wayne Township Town Hall, with social distancing protocols in place.

Mayor Christopher Vergano released a video Wednesday apologizing to the students.

“Throughout, our only goal was to assist the children of our community in having a meaningful celebration. This was never about me, as the mayor, the board of education or the governor,” the mayor said. “This was and still remains only about one thing – the Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills classes of 2020.”

The folks say even with that decision, and the governor's executive order still in place, they held their own ceremony.

It’s the second time in the last week that the Murphy administration has taken action against a town for violating an executive order. Asbury Park was sued after the city council voted to allow indoor dining at restaurants.