Waterville Central School will take all required steps to give the Class of 2020 its wish for graduation: to be in the same place one more time.
At last week’s remote WCS Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Chuck Chafee called the plan less than perfect. But, he said, it will be a ceremony with all 66 graduates and their families able to be there.
Note: The discussion came before the state aid graduations of 150 people can take place after June 26.
Board members met remotely through Zoom. During the first half hour of the two-and-a-half hour meeting, someone hacked into the meeting.
During the budget presentation given by Chafee and Business administrator Tracy Leone, the hacker began shouting racist remarks with profanity. A cartoon character popped up when the person was speaking.
The virtual meeting had about a dozen people connected through Zoom with the ability to talk during the meeting and about 35 people watching via the YouTube channel at the time. Someone had shared the Zoom link on Facebook, which opened it up to the possibility of a cyber attack.
When the meeting resumed with new connections, Board president Steve Stanton addressed the issue before the budget hearing resumed. “We will not tolerate this,’’ he said, adding he and board members were appalled and disappointed. “This was an obvious display of the work we have to still do.’’
The evening also included the formal acceptance of Chafee’s retirement at the end of the month and approval of an agreement worked out with Kimberly Mursch, who worked as the athletic director and assistant principal...