Some students had previously been shut out after the June 6 prom had sold out.
by James McEvoy, Managing Editor
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The issue of ticket sales in advance of the Bordentown prom appears to have been resolved.
District officials and administrators addressed the issue at the Bordentown Regional Board of Education meeting Wednesday night.
Principal Patrick Lynch told the board and public that the event’s venue — the Adventure Aquarium in Camden — had made more space available to accommodate additional students for the June 6 event.
”They were gracious enough to open up more room up for us at no cost,” Mr. Lynch said during the May 7 meeting.
Recently, some students were been informed the event had sold out sparking criticism of the district, including on various social media platforms.
”I’m embarrassed that we had the negative publicity that we had. It was uncalled for. If I had an opportunity to talk to the parents that were concerned about this the result would have been as it is today,” Mr. Lynch said, noting he was unavailable for calls Monday due to his daughter giving birth. “We would have figured out a way to get people to the prom.”
He additionally noted he received only one anonymous voicemail on the matter.
Mr. Lynch also took responsibility for the situation.
”I want to say that in no way did the prom committee — the students — or the class advisors have anything to do with the decisions made in regards to shutting people out,” he said. “I moved the date, I moved the venue. The responsibility falls on me.”
He explained that last year the prom committee expressed a desire to hold this year’s event at the aquarium.
However, he said he was concerned as the prom was initially scheduled for the previous Thursday, May 29, in facility’s main room, which holds 600 people. He noted that most districts he knew of that held Thursday proms also scheduled in-service sessions for the following day, so students wouldn’t have to attend.
”We didn’t set that up so I was concerned about the students not coming in the school the next day,” he said.
He then inquired with the aquarium about holding the prom the following Friday, but the only available room was smaller and could only hold 300 people.
However, based on previous attendance including last year’s prom, which he said was attended by between 290 and 295 students, he was comfortable with the change at the time.
”I need to do something better to get parents to be able to feel comfortable calling me up and saying, ‘I have a problem, you need to resolve it,’” he said.
All students attending the prom or interested in attending, were informed of the latest developments, he said, including the fact that ticket prices were increased by $5 to accommodate an additional bus for transporting students.
Interim superintendent Joseph Miller said he had also sent an email blast informing that the problem had been resolved.
Responding to a comment from a board member regarding future proms, Mr. Lynch quickly responded that they had learned their lesson.