February 9, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
For years the DeKalb County High School Prom has been open only to DCHS students in good standing. This year members of the student body want the policy changed to allow invited students from other high schools in good standing to also attend the DCHS Prom along with recent DCHS graduates up to the age of 20. Plans are for this year’s prom to again be held off campus.
During an informal workshop session prior to the regular monthly meeting Thursday night, DCHS Senior Morgan Walker addressed the Board of Education to make the formal request on behalf of the student body. The meeting room was filled with other high school students and parents in support of the proposed policy change.
In the regular monthly meeting following the workshop, the Board members voted to table action on the request until they had more time to study the issue. A decision is expected perhaps at the next school board meeting.
Walker said a majority of the student body at DCHS wants the policy changed.
“We would like to see the policy changed to allow students from other schools that are in good standing-meaning they have good grades, attendance, and no behavior issues to attend our prom. We would also like to ask that recent graduates of DeKalb County High School up to the age of 20 be allowed to attend,” said Walker.
“For example, I am dating someone from Livingston and he goes to that school. I also have friends who are seniors this year who are dating someone who was a senior and graduated here last year but they want to bring them to the prom this year even though they are now 18 or 19 years old,” Walker added.
“Right now its (prom) is for juniors and seniors and they can invite freshmen and sophomores from within the school,” said DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis.
The DCHS handbook states that “only DCHS students in good standing shall attend the prom. Student eligibility for participation in extracurricular activities including the prom should include, with approval of the principal, those who are currently passing all classes, have a satisfactory attendance record and have a minimum number of discipline infractions”.
According to Walker, several mid-state county school districts allow other students to attend their high school proms.
“With the help of a DCHS teacher, we contacted or received paperwork from 31 counties in the Middle Tennessee area. Twenty eight of 31 counties allow students from other high schools to attend their prom. Twenty six out of 31 allow students up to the age of 20 to attend. As we have reached out to these counties, we see that they have solved the issue of liability. If this many counties can make this work without issue, my hope is DeKalb County can as well. We do not expect this to add an overwhelming burden or liability to the staff of DCHS if the correct policies are implemented. A majority of DCHS teachers and staff members also approve of this change,” Walker continued.
“This request is similar to the policies of many counties we have contacted. Most of the policies from other counties state they allow those ages 15-20 to attend prom but every policy varies slightly”.
“The Warren County policy states that the Warren County student will be held responsible for their date’s behavior. Some schools require Photo ID to be attached to the application and to be shown at the door the night of prom. Other schools’ policies also state that they have the right to deny any applicants admission to prom. For the students that are currently enrolled in high school, most schools require a signed application from their principal stating that they have no disciplinary issues. For the guests that have already graduated, some schools require them to get a form signed by their employer, college professor, or commanding officer,” said Walker.
“We as DeKalb County students are asking you to do for us what over 90% of the counties (contacted) are doing for their students. At the end of the day, we hope to see this change,” Walker said.
Sixth district school board member Jason Miller asked Principal Curtis what he thought about the request.
“I have to look at the entire picture of all 800 plus DCHS students and who they may bring into the school and the only (option) I could get behind and really feel comfortable with would be if kids from other schools were allowed to come because at least then I could contact their principal and check on them to make sure they are in good standing. Those who are now out of school, I don’t have any idea what they may have done since they left high school. Its harder to check them out and I don’t want somebody I don’t know and am uncomfortable with coming into our school with our kids,” said Principal Curtis.
“Assistant DCHS Principal Jenny Norris said she doesn’t have an issue with allowing other high school students in good standing to attend the DCHS prom because there have been several cases in the past where high school students from DeKalb County have been allowed to attend high school proms elsewhere.
“I know personally the last several years I have signed slips for our students to be able to go to other school proms including at Upperman, Livingston Academy, and Warren County where they allow our students to come. The forms are filled out by myself, Mr. Curtis or Mr. (Thomas) Cagle and their (other school) administrations ask us to check up on them to make sure they are in good standing,” said Norris.
Even if the policy is changed to allow other students to attend the DCHS prom, administrators speculate that there would only be a few to take advantage of the opportunity.
Although it’s a school board decision, Director Patrick Cripps expressed reservations about changing the prom policy.
“What if we have a kid (at the prom) who gets in trouble who is not a student of ours? How do we deal with that? Our students can be managed with discipline at the school. Those are things we have to look at if we choose to do this,” said Director Cripps.
Board members who spoke on the issue seemed to indicate they could support allowing students from other schools in good standing to attend the DCHS prom but expressed concerns about permitting 19- & 20-year-olds to come.
“I think it’s a hard push when you’re trying to consider someone who has already graduated because it is a high school prom. It becomes tough when you are talking about 19- & 20-year-olds coming back. Everybody is good with it until a 20-year-old touches somebody inappropriately and then we have issues. We live in a society today where hearsay holds a lot of water and I think we open up a door when we want what I consider adults to come back to a high school prom,” said Board member Miller.
“The only issue I have with it is grown adults being there (prom). I don’t see how a 20-year-old has any purpose being at a high school dance. Why could it (policy) not be amended to invite somebody from a different school as long as they are enrolled in a school? You could check on that. I am here to find common ground and a resolution,” said Fourth district member Eric Ervin.
Board member Miller commended Walker for addressing the board with her request on behalf of the student body.
“I would like to thank Ms. Morgan Walker for being the spokesperson for the senior class. I commend you for standing up for what you believe in. I also commend the parents for standing up with the kids and thank everyone who attended here tonight. I think that speaks volumes,” he said.