RIPLEY — Ripley Central School sixth grade students will participate in a graduation parade/ceremony today, board of education members learned at their meeting on May 27.

Superintendent William Caldwell told board members that the graduates will take part in an automobile parade, beginning at 6 pm, with each car stopping briefly so the graduate can accept an envelope with a diploma and awards.

Caldwell, along with school principal Micah Oldham and sixth grade teacher Erika Meredith will be present, wearing masks and gloves, to greet each graduate and give him or her an envelope. Students will be met in front of the Veterans’ monument on Route 20.

Ripley librarian Karen Kondrick will be taking pictures of each student with Caldwell, Oldham and Meredith, and each student will receive a photograph from the event. Caldwell noted that, since the parade/commencement ceremony will be held outdoors, there is a scheduled rain date of Friday.

The superintendent also told the board that faculty members will participate in a farewell parade on Friday at 3 p.m. “The teachers plan to drive by the home of every student in the district,” he said. They want to say good-bye to the kids and let them know how much they are missed, he added.

In a related matter, Caldwell told board members that Thursday is the last day for instruction and next Tuesday is the last work day for teachers. He said the teachers will come into the building next week to close out their classrooms and obtain what they need to do planning for next year.

Caldwell also told the board that district employees, such as maintenance workers, buildings and grounds keepers and cleaners will be returning to regular work schedules on July 1.

“Barring any changes from the governor, I’ll be moving the district back to regular, daily work schedules on July 1,” he said.

Caldwell said the week after students finish their online instruction, the district will be doing a technology turn-in. “Each family will receive a letter stating what needs to be returned and giving a drop-off time,” he said. “The turn-in will take place from 2-6 pm.”

The superintendent told the board that select people will come out to the cars. They will be wearing masks and gloves and they will accept the items from families. The computers will be placed in Ziploc bags, where they will remain for 14 days before being checked for funcionality, he said.