By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
Football players are trading in jerseys for tuxes, florists are busy with corsage orders and young women are buying dresses that probably sapped an entire semester’s worth of part-time wages.
As the school year comes to an end, students everywhere are preparing for the ultimate party prom night. A luxurious night full of limousine rides, dancing and of course endless photo ops that would rival a Brangelina outing.
But students are hardly the only ones preparing for this fairytale evening.
Princeton, West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South and Montgomery teachers, administrations, committees and parents have been ardently working to prevent student use of alcohol and drugs before, during and after the prom. By implementing a variety of prevention initiatives, school officials are working to give students a fun but safe and protected memorable evening.
For the first time ever, Princeton school officials will be administering a breathalyzer test to students entering the prom to prohibit intoxicated partygoers a decision that has angered some students, but a preventative measure Superintendent Judy Wilson thinks is acceptable.
”More students understand and appreciate than you think,” said Ms. Wilson. “The question is of making sure it’s a fun and safe environment for everyone and that no one’s night is ruined by kids under the influence.”
The breathalyzer policy, which was unanimously crafted and adopted by the Board of Education on March 24, is broad and allows the school to administer the test to students at any event, to randomly test groups of students and to test for specific reasons of suspicion.Princeton and Montgomery schools also present mock crash scenarios to show students the dangers and potential life-changing events of drinking and driving.
”The mock car crash is a major effort every other year, thanks to the community and the emergency services in the community,” said Superintendent Wilson. “It’s overwhelmingly striking and meaningful.”
This year, Princeton timed it so the mock crash would be May 23, the day before prom ensuring a still fresh impression.
In addition to mock crashes, Montgomery students engage in a variety of drug and alcohol programs through the drivers education program that is strategically based around prom time. School advisers also speak candidly in a pre-prom assembly about prom procedures and consequences.”
”It’s for the students’ well being and not wanting to have a tragedy in the school,” said Superintendent Earl Kim. “The relationship between the students and staff goes a long very well.”
When asked if Montgomery would consider using breathalyzers in the future, Mr. Kim said no because it sends the signal to kids that they are untrustworthy and criminalizes their behavior.
”Schools are not law enforcement agencies. What causes students to make good decisions is respectful relationships from people they respect and trust not because of compliance to rules and regulations,” said Mr. Kim. “If a school takes those enforcement approaches, I would question why have the activity in the first place.”
Ms. Wilson explained that Princeton students are extremely responsible, but that prom is also a social rite of passage for teenagers.
”Sometimes it makes really smart, responsible students make bad choices,” she added.
Debbie Rabbino, the chair of the West Windsor-Plainsboro South post prom committee, said preventing drugs and alcohol in the high school’s prom experience is an ongoing proactive effort whether it’s the D.A.R.E program, peer leadership groups and drivers education classes.
”It’s really an ongoing mission at High School South and not something is just addressed prior to prom,” said Ms. Rabbino.
When addressed about using a breathalyzer, Ms. Rabbino said that it was a judgment call that should be left up to the corresponding administration.
Although all the schools said students showing up to prom intoxicated was a rare event, those who fail to pass either an official’s judgment or breathalyzer is sent packing, forfeiting his or her prom night and suffering the school’s consequences.
And he or she would get to share the ride home with a probably very angry parent or guardian not friends in a shiny, sleek stretch limo.
While all the districts have officials and chaperones who monitor the festivities, it’s the post-prom that really worries schools and parents.
Students are often known to turn an evening of elegance into an evening into an ongoing, and often illegal, weekend of intoxication at one of New Jersey’s beaches especially Seaside or Wildwood.
So, to prevent potential debaucheries and harmful outcomes, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South throw big post-prom bashes that continue throughout the night.
A free event Ms. Rabbino described as an “extravaganza,” West Windsor-Plainsboro South’s post-prom night has been in the works for more than 20 years and remains a popular choice for high school students to celebrate.
”It provides a safe, drug and alcohol-free environment for the senior class to come together in a celebration culminating their many years together in the school district,” said Ms. Rabbino. “As far as our own seniors, post-prom is a long-awaited event for them and I can tell you that it’s the most talked about after-prom event.”
Ms. Rabbino remained mum about event’s venue theme at the high school, so students will just have to wait until the last prom song has been danced.
Director of Communications Gerri Hutner confirmed that West Windsor High School North also holds a post-prom event.
Superintendent Earl Kim said Montgomery held a post prom activity once, but decided to nix it in the future because it was not well attended. He emphasized that it is how students are raised and taught self-regulation, sense of responsibility, self-discipline and social skills that would be the ultimate influence on post prom decisions.
When asked about implementing a post-prom event in the future, Mr. Kim said it was unlikely.
”For the child on the fence who is tempted, it might be the deterrent they need, but for most students it has no effect on them either way because they weren’t going to do it in the first place. For students with maladaptive behaviors, no amount of rules or threats of punishments or breathalyzers are going to stop them,” said Mr. Kim. “The way we do it is respectful and it is accepted in our school community.”

