The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Graduation day date changed
TORRINGTON >> Thanks to a cold, wet winter, the date of the Torrington graduation ceremony has been moved to June 25.
Superintendent Denise Clemons said Wednesday that according to state statute, graduation cannot be held until 181 days had taken place in a school year, which meant that the event had to be pushed back.
Graduation is now scheduled for June 25, according to the most current calendar posted on the district website.
“We have had eight snow days,
and so, therefore, we are over the limit. Since we are over the limit, we had to change graduation to the 25th, because the students can’t graduate until their 181 days of instruction has occurred,” said Clemons.
The last day for students is expected to be June 21, barring further cancellations, while teachers are expected to wrap up their year on June 22.
A community forum for discussion of the date for graduation is set for Monday, March 27, according to Clemons, at 5:30 p.m. in the Torrington High School cafeteria.
Clemons said Thursday, before a hearing on the proposed district budget, that both she and the Board of Education had received calls and emails about the change, and that the matter was being considered.
As discussed Wednesday by board members, holding graduation on Sunday evening is the least-expensive option for the district.
Joanne Brogis, a former vice principal at Torrington High School, said Wednesday that graduation had previously been held during the week, and that the results had not been positive.
“We used to have it on a weeknight, and it wasn’t very good,” said Brogis. “Trust me, it was much better to have it on a Sunday with families.”
The 2016 Torrington High School graduation ceremony was held on June 19, according to past reporting. Photos of the event are available through The Register Citizen Media Center.