Banner Ads Flying Over Graduation May Prompt Policy On Ceremony Etiquette

School may not be starting until Friday for Ramapo Indian Hills students, but board members in the district already have graduation in mind. The board discussed at its meeting last week plans for a policy to address some atypical methods of celebrating graduates that families used at the Class of 2013 ceremony this past June.

According to board member Debbi Strauss, the board’s policy committee is in the midst of reacting to three planes carrying celebratory streamers behind them that flew over the Class of 2013 ceremony at Indian Hills. The planes circled the field, and were tailed by messages congratulating the entire graduating class, and a few grads in particular.

Strauss called the planes, “noisy and disruptive,” saying they made it difficult for some guests of the ceremony to hear what was going on.

Board members also said the use of air horns at the ceremony was distracting and loud.

Though board members did not discuss the specifics of what the policy might look like, they are discussing potential new rules to regulate loud, celebratory items used at graduation at both high schools in the district.

“There are safety issues here, too,” Strauss said. “So, we need a policy to address this.”

Patch wants to know, what do you think of air horns and flying planes at graduation? Tell us what you think the board should consider in the comments section below.