Brookline High School Parents Urge Town To Allow Grad Party

BROOKLINE, MA — For months, the guardians and parents of the class of 2021 at Brookline High School have been planning a way to have a safe "celebratory graduation and end of high school events" and follow COVID guidelines. Then in April, state officials encouraged schools to skip prom for the second year because of the pandemic.

The 30 parents and administrators working on the plan pivoted with an eye toward that guidance and finally submitted their proposal for the series of events —to be held outdoors like a block party — last week to the health commissioner.

They were met with silence. They panicked. So the three PTO co-presidents sent a letter to School Committee, Select Board and district officials urging them to push for approval of the plan which already has administration and police approval, they said.

"Despite an obvious time constraint, and the need to book vendors, secure permits, arrange for volunteers, disseminate instructions to students, and publicize the events, Dr. Jett has not responded with feedback or approval," said Jennifer Hunt, Jamie Glanton Costello and Jennie Roffman said in the letter.

Brookline Health Commissioner Dr. Swanni Jett did not immediately respond to comment. But Jett has consistently recommended the town take a conservative approach when it comes to reopening measures amid the pandemic.

Wednesday evening he held the minority view point that the town should relax outdoor mask mandates just because the state, and federal guidelines had allowed for it.

• Read more: Brookline To Ditch Outdoor Mask Mandate May 21

Parents called the thought of their students not able to celebrate " immensely frustrating and heartbreaking." They also defended the event as a way to protect students from harm during the end of school season.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and about a quarter involve an underage drinking driver, and according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other studies, those crashes rise during graduation and prom season.

The celebratory activities they argued, would also be more equitable for students.

If the district didn't start telling families about school-wide plans, families would make plans on their own for celebrating their seniors, they wrote.

"These plans will not be equitable across the class, will not be DESE or CDC compliant, and will likely not be as safe for our seniors as a schoolwide commencement and celebration would be," they said.

"Please urge Dr. Jett to approve the graduation plan and the senior celebration proposal immediately, so we can celebrate and support these incredible seniors safely," they wrote.

Parents said they're not asking for a prom.

Isn't the state banning prom?

It's not a ban, but updated guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education called the rite of passage "an inherently high-risk activity, as it is a social gathering that involves dancing and singing (both of which are activities with increased respiration)."

The guidance "strongly recommends" schools come up with alternative celebrations for seniors, rather than hold the dance.

Alternatively, if schools insist on holding the dance, DESE asks that they wait until the end of the school year, when more students might be vaccinated.

If a school chooses to go ahead with prom, the dance must follow CDC event guidelines, including wearing masks, keeping a distance, and abiding by the capacity limits, which mean no more than 100 people can be indoors at an event, or 150 outdoors.

• Previously Massachusetts To Schools: Consider Cancelling Prom

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.