Proposed prom policy at issue

District to re-examine if freshmen should be allowed to attend prom

Perry School District administrators are taking a second look at a proposed student handbook policy that would allow freshmen to attend the Perry High School prom, if they are invited by a senior or junior class member.

That subject was discussed and debated by School Board members at their June 26 meeting. The board had been asked to approve 2018-19 student handbooks for Perry High, Middle and Elementary schools, as recommended by Superintendent Jack Thompson and building principals.

Before a vote could be taken to approve the handbooks collectively, board Vice President Andrew Roberts raised an issue with a policy regarding Perry freshmen being permitted to attend the prom.

The policy states: “Although all Perry High School students are welcomed to attend prom, freshmen and sophomores must

“My personal feeling is that a 14- or 15-year-old at a prom isn’t always a good thing.” — Perry School Board Vice President Andrew Roberts

be invited by a junior or senior in order to attend.” The wording is slightly different than the rule in last year’s handbook, which said, “All guests must be of sophomore rank or higher.”

However, a separate decision made in the spring by district administrators allowed freshmen, when invited by a senior or junior, to attend the 2018 prom.

Since the prom was held, Roberts said he’s talked

with a lot of parents, students and community members who object to freshmen going to Perry’s prom.

“My suggestion would be either going back to language we had before where freshmen weren’t allowed to prom, or we pose the question to juniors and seniors or the prom committee itself,” he said.

Roberts said he believes that many 14- and 15-yearolds — the typical age range for freshmen — haven’t achieved the proper maturity level to attend a high school prom.

“My personal feeling is

that a 14- or 15-year-old at a prom isn’t always a good thing,” he said.

About five Perry freshmen attended the 2018 prom, and these students caused no problems, said board member Ashley Hacking.

She added that the prom is a chaperoned event and all students who attend the event must follow school rules.

Hacking said it seemed inconsistent to exclude freshmen from attending the prom when they’re permitted to participate in other sports, clubs and activities

with upper-class members.

“I personally think if we’re going to look at it like that, we’re going to have to step back and look at everything that our high schoolers do,” Hacking said.

Roberts wasn’t swayed by Hacking’s statements, and re-emphasized the feedback he received after freshmen attended the 2018 prom.

“I think the community spoke, I think a lot of students have spoke and I think a lot of parents have spoke,” he said. “I think to ignore that, based on the past history of what’s happened

in this district, is very flippant.”

After more discussion, the board decided to approve the elementary and middle school handbooks in the original resolution and table the high school handbooks for more discussion.

Plans call for Thompson, High School Principal Todd Porcello and Assistant High School Principal Scott Niedzwiecki to re-examine the subject of freshmen attending the prom, and bring back a recommendation to the board at its July 17 meeting.