BCSC prom cancelled; alternative event could be summer

Skylar Myers, Matt Romig Jake Splatley ride on the tailgate as Brooke Valles, Kailee Hall and Chloe Abner dance during the promenade before the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. prom Saturday, May 4, 2019. Carla Clark | For The Republic

The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. prom set for May 2 has been canceled by school officials due to the novel coronavirus and the current ban on large gatherings.

In-person classes have been canceled currently through May 1 statewide by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s order.

Last year’s prom, which included students from Columbus North, Columbus East and Columbus Signature Academy, drew a record crowd of more than 1,200 attendees at The Commons, according to North art teacher Tonya Cruser, one of the coordinators of this year’s event.

But a Seymour event planner is hoping to organize a free, alternative formal dance — one not sanctioned by the school system — perhaps by summer, if the climate and restrictions about the illness change. The original prom committee members simply want to make sure that students and parents know that any alternative event is not linked with original organizers or under their jurisdiction.

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Cruser pointed out that the BCSC event includes police security, an on-site nurse, an age limit of no older than age 21, and background checks of attending students outside BCSC in order to ensure overall safety.

Cruser also said she already checked with a number of juniors and seniors about the possibility of a delayed event in the summer, but most were not interested. She also pointed out that The Commons is generally booked by now for summer Saturdays with events such as weddings and receptions.

“But I have no problem with someone trying to host something for the kids,” Cruser said.

She added that students and others are disappointed with the cancellation, but understand.

Lisa Crowe of Seymour and dad Randy Weber of Evansville of Weber Event Productions mentioned that some local students contacted Crowe about organizing a dance for BCSC students. This occurred after she offered, via a Facebook post, to help Seymour and Brownstown students plan an alternative dance if the upcoming Seymour and Brownstown proms were canceled. Crowe said she has considered calling the local event Prom 2.0: Save the Last Dance, open to all Bartholomew County juniors and seniors.

“We can’t do any planning until the pandemic restrictions are limited,” Crowe said, adding that that includes setting a date and a facility. She even has considered an outdoor event under a large tent.

She and her dad helped a Kentucky school save its prom about 20 years ago. Expenses were met, she said, when local businesses and others donated all needed supplies and services.

“We’re certainly not trying to do this for profit,” Weber said, adding that he donated his services and help back then.

Crowe said the firm’s normal expense for planning and organizing this type of event and providing a deejay service would be about $2,500. But she said they would donate that expense to the cause.

“These kids were born just after 9/11,” Crowe said. “And now, for them to come this far, and have this (virus) happen … . One of the things they said to me was that, ‘We said our goodbyes without knowing it might have been our last goodbyes.’

“That really just tore into me.”