Waltham Eyes What To Do About Prom Amid State Recommendations

WALTHAM, MA —It's not a ban, but state officials are asking schools in Massachusetts, including Waltham High School, to skip prom for the second year because of the pandemic.

Updated guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calls 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)."

Waltham High School associate principal for the senior class, Brenda Peña, also the principal-elect, is leading an effort to figure out next steps in Waltham, according to Superintendent Brian Reagan. Pena said she was unavailable in time to comment for this article.

"We are working on a plan that aligns with the latest DESE guidance," Reagan said.

Pena is holding a parent forum Thursday evening, Reagan said.

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 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.

Prom has generally been held the final week in May in Waltham. It was canceled last year amid the pandemic.

Most elementary school students returned to school for full, in-person learning five days a week Monday, and middle schoolers will return April 28. High school students have not yet been requested to return.