#LetNannyGoToProm– AL high school principal denies teen’s request to take grandma to prom
EUFAULA, AL (WTVM) – A sweet high school senior wanted to give his grandmother the opportunity to do something she has never done before – attend a high school prom.
Bryce Maine of Eufaula High School asked his 'Nanny,' Catherine Maine to senior prom on his 18th birthday.
While there was an outpouring of support following the 'promposal,' the Eufaula High School principal has denied Nanny the opportunity to attend prom.
In a Facebook post by Bryce's cousin, Sarah Catherine, she stated, "Well after she done bought her dress and made plans, the principal decided that they cannot do that anymore... Like really?!"
Her post continues, "Eufaula High School let my grandma go to Prom."
With this story circulating across social media, the Eufaula City Schools Board of Education and a teacher have contacted Bryce to explain why Nanny cannot attend prom.
The board of education thinks that if Bryce takes his grandmother to prom then future students will do it as a joke and make the school a mockery, according to the Facebook post. Eufaula High School's prom is scheduled for Saturday, April 8.
Eufaula High School released the following statement on the prom controversy:
The Eufaula High School Student Handbook states on page 44:
"The Junior-Senior Prom is a cherished event held in the spring of each year. Attendees must be under the age of twenty and/or should be enrolled at EHS. Non-EHS students who are planning to attend as dates must present a valid photo ID verifying their age prior to admittance. Students planning to bring a non-EHS student as a date must also inform the prom sponsor no later than two weeks prior to the event. Students who purchase tickets for dates who have not been previously approved to attend are subject to the forfeiture of the Non-Refundable prom ticket. Inappropriate attire, as deemed by the administration, which violates the decency and modesty clause of the ECS Code of Conduct will not be permitted."
Steve Hawkins, principal of Eufaula City Schools, stated, "Safety of students and staff is the first and most important of the many tasks of a school administrator. For the 10 years I have been high school principal, we have denied requests each year from students asking to bring older dates to prom. We do not chance leaving any stone unturned when it comes to safety. Most high schools have an age limit for prom attendees."
Other safety measures used by Eufaula City Schools include doing background checks on all school volunteers no matter their age and using a screening system called Raptor to check all school visitors for sex offender status.
No staff member at Eufaula City Schools has been contacted recently by a parent or guardian questioning the age limit for prom attendees. For the situation that has come to light on social media by an out-of-town cousin of a current Eufaula High School student, a call was made this morning to the father of the student to request a meeting. The father is unable to meet until Monday morning.
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