Prom parameters helped quiet event
By Anne Marie Kyzer annemariek@thetruecitizen.com

Prom night was a bit less crowded at Burke County High School this year.

Plenty of students still attended the annual junior-senor held, but the throng of spectators who came to watch the grand march thinned out considerably.

Friends and relatives typically attend the march in mass to watch as each of the students and their dates are presented and cross the stage. But often times, the result was a jam-packed auditorium, excessive noise and occasional disputes.

This year, principal Wayne Hickman announced some changes that put a stop to it.

Each student that purchased a ticket to the prom was issued three passes for parents or friends to attend the grand march. Others who wished to attend were required to pay $5.

Board of education chairman Johnny Jenkins and member Barrett Wimberly reported hearing grumblings from a few community members and were concerned about limiting involvement. However, Jenkins said he thought it was a good idea after hearing the reason.

When prom night rolled around, the ticket system and admission charge apparently eliminated the trouble-makers and problems of the past.

"The kids seemed to have a good time and enjoy themselves," Hickman said after the event. "We were really pleased by the public participation in coming to view the grand march. It was orderly, and it was just a very worthwhile experience. We think that changing the format to tickets and a minimal charge really seemed to make a positive impact."

Edmund Burke Academy headmaster Brent Cribb said his school has been issuing tickets for seating at his school's grand march for several years and it has worked well for the school.

"Fortunately, we've always had crowds that are manageable," he said.

Other changes to the BCHS prom included an age limit for dates. BOE members agreed that such exclusions were required after hearing that men as old as 39 had called to ask why they could not attend the prom.

"This is the junior-senior," board vice-chair Willie Latimore said. "If he's thirty-nine years old he's not a junior or a senior."

The age limit was set at 21, the maximum age a student can legally attend a high school.