Moms Talk: What Roles Should Parents Have at High School Dances?

With the final dance of the year and granddaddy of them all, prom, quickly approaching for students May 20, Hartland Patch wanted to get the official school stance on parents acting as chaperones at these school-sponsored events.

In the past, some parents have said the school's policy makes it difficult for them to chaperone or even attend the events.

“We have three dances a year — homecoming, winterfest and prom. The way we determine chaperone need is we first put out a call to the staff," explained Chuck Hughes, principal at the school.

“Our first choice is to have staff as chaperones; if we have enough staff, then we don’t worry about inviting parents," he said. "Parents are always welcome to come and stand in the lobby area of the high school and be around for kids if they’d like to, but that’s really where we stop.”

Hughes said the preferred ratio is one adult for every 30 students. In order to determine chaperone need, the school has started selling advance tickets only. In the past, tickets could be purchased at the door, and coordinators had to guess at the number who would attend.

“The last couple of dances have been very well-attended and well-chaperoned by staff members,” Hughes said. "If we need parents, then we invite them and we station them in certain areas.

Parents who aren’t chaperoning the dance in an official sense are welcome to come but they are restricted to the lobby. If the dance is in the gym, Hughes said, “I don’t allow them to go in to the gym or in to the track area, but they can be there if their kids need them.”

Hughes attributes the control over additional adults in the building as a precautionary move.

“It’s all part of that safety and security component that we want to know who’s at our dances. If you let one parent in, then where do you stop? Our job is to create a safe environment where we're dealing with the kids and there is not going to be any issues.”

What do you think of the policy?

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