D300 High Schools Prep For Proms — With No Dancing

ALGONQUIN, IL — Prom is a go for District 300 high schools but, as of right now, dancing is out.

All three District 300 high schools, including Jacobs, Dundee-Crown and Hampshire high schools, plan to hold prom-like events on April 24, District 300 Superintendent Fred Heid said during a Tuesday board of education meeting. The events will include activities inspired by ideas from high school seniors who responded to recent surveys and that also fit within current public health guidelines, which encourage social distancing and continued efforts to hold COVID-19 at bay.

Which means, at least for now, no dancing.

Heid told the school board Tuesday that he checked with the health department to see if there was any way to safely allow dancing at prom this year. He reiterated the response he received from public health officials: "Mr. Heid, the minute you turn on the music, they are like two celestial bodies, they can't help but attract towards each other. And you can not guarantee us that you can maintain three feet of social distancing in a venue with dancing."

Jokingly, Heid said, "we could put the plexiglass between them, I guess."

The proms will be held at all three high school with each event currently offering different activities. Students will be grouped into "pods" of 50 attendees or fewer and will include only District 300 seniors — no dates from other schools will be allowed.

Those attending will rotate with their pods through different activities situated in different parts of the high school, including a red carpet entrance, dinner, music (without dancing), photography and other activities, according to District 300 documents.

If participation is low among seniors, District 300 may open up prom to juniors as well. And if state guidelines regarding social distancing change before prom, students may be able to dance.

"I remain hopeful that something will change between now and April 24th," Heid said.