Promland Security Screens Dates From Outside Of Schools

Sullivan Central High School Junior Katie Hughes had everything she needed to attend the prom this year, including a date to take her to the event.

Her plans hit a snag in February when Central High administrators denied the boy permission to attend the dance.

"They wouldn’t let him go," said Katie, who planned to take former Central High student Tim Dougherty.

Because he was not a current student at the school, she had to have him approved before she could pick up the tickets.

Dougherty said he received three days of in-school-suspension last year because of a scuffle with another student on the last day of class.

He said it could be why his application to attend the prom was refused, though he was still shocked when it happened.

"I couldn’t believe it," he said, showing a picture of the application with a big "No!" written across it in red letters. "When [Katie] received the paper back during class, everyone thought it was a joke."

Central High Principal Melanie Riden declined to comment about the situation, claiming privacy laws that prevented her from discussing details.

Riden said, however, that everyone attending the dance had to be approved and "attendance to the prom is a privilege and not a right."

She also included a copy of the form she required Katie, and any other student who had planned to have a non-Central date, to fill out.

It asks for the potential date’s name, school, the names of his or her parents, and a number to reach them so a school administrator can make calls to check on the person’s background.

Principals at other area high schools said they have similar practices in place, and they also have declined some requests.

"It’s fun and safety," said Tennessee High School Principal Jim Butcher, who also checks up on who his students intend to bring to proms. "Safety comes first."

Butcher has his students turn in their date’s name and their school. He then calls that school’s principal and asks about the student.

Butcher said the practice is pretty widespread because he’s received calls from other principals asking about Tennessee High students.

"An easy way to find out [about the prospective date] is to ask, ‘would you allow them to come to a dance at your school?’ " John Battle High School Principal Jeff Hawkins said, adding that he does so for any school dance.

Hawkins credits the policy with helping avoid any negative situations at such school events. Both he and Butcher say they’ve rarely had to reject students’ dates.

Chillhowie High School student Wil Brooks and Northwood High School student Allie Davie said a similar policy is in place at their schools.

"My principal said ‘hey you have to be good at that prom because they called and asked about you," said Allie, who attended Chilhowie’s prom Saturday with Wil.

She said most of Northwood’s students are bringing prom dates from outside their school this year because only 80 students are in each class.

She’s a little worried because so far she hasn’t heard anything back about the application for Wil to be her date.

"They haven’t approved him yet, so let’s just hope," said Allie, who brought the two dresses to wear to the different proms.

She said some of her friends plan to bring dates who have already graduated from high school, in which case Northwood administrators have a more strict policy. The potential date must supply their current address and social security number in case a full background check needs to be conducted.

Allie said many Northwood students who date recent graduates think the policy is a little extreme and plan to skip the prom in protest.

Katie Hughes did not attend her prom – which was April 5 – because she didn’t want to go to the dance with anyone other than Dougherty.

"I got a dress and shoes and everything," Katie said, adding she’s graduating early and this year was her only chance to attend the prom.

gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518