Proms, graduations in limbo as social distancing continues

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  • Angela Murtagh, owner of Angela’s of Palatka, which sells bridal and prom dresses, says if local proms are canceled, half of her yearly revnue wpuld be lost.
    Angela Murtagh, owner of Angela’s of Palatka, which sells bridal and prom dresses, says if local proms are canceled, half of her yearly revnue wpuld be lost.
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With the Florida Department of Education extending campus closures until May 1, school celebrations such as prom are in jeopardy.

Putnam County School District Superintendent Rick Surrency hasn’t officially canceled the dances, but he said he doesn’t think they are likely to occur.

“I don’t want to make a decision now just in case, by some miracle, this whole thing blows over,” Surrency late last month. “I’m not too optimistic that will happen, to be honest.”

Surrency said he originally planned to make a decision April 15, which is when Florida schools had been tentatively scheduled to reopen their campuses. He said the extension of social distancing practices has changed his timeline, though.

According to Surrency, local principals will be making announcements regarding their respective prom ceremonies next week.

“It’s a timely decision because I know planning for these things takes time,” Surrency said.

Surrency said he didn’t want to make a premature decision because nobody knows how long the coronavirus pandemic is going to last. He said events like prom and graduation take a lot of preparation and he wants to be respectful of peoples’ plans.

Angela Murtagh, owner of Angela’s of Palatka, said her boutique relies heavily on prom season. If high school proms don’t happen, it would hurt business, she said.

Murtagh closed her business temporarily to keep the public and her employees safe, she said. 

“It’s been pretty scary. Prom season is usually half of my yearly income,” Murtagh said. “If prom is canceled, it’s just going to be a rough year.”

Some high school seniors in the school district said they have spent months preparing for their prom.

“It’s pretty sad because people spend a lot of money on prom,” said Zaria Long, a Palatka High School senior. “There’s dresses, shoes and jewelry. It’s a real disappointment. It’s our senior year, and everybody has been waiting on this stuff, you know?”

Zaria said she is also disheartened by the cancellation of Grad Bash, an annual event where high school seniors from around the state congregate at an amusement park to celebrate completing their secondary education.

“It’s saddening because all the classes before us got to do it,” Zaria said. “It makes me wonder why it had to be our class.”

Grad Bash isn’t the only gathering that has already been canceled.

Becci Motes, PHS Jobs for Florida Graduates specialist, said The Arc of Putnam County nixed its prom, which was going to be organized by Jobs for Florida Graduates students.

“The kids are missing out on their big end-of-the-year celebrations that celebrate all of their schooling,” Motes said. “These are self-sacrifices that they’ve been making with a heavy heart for the good of the country.”

Motes said her students have been relatively positive during the pandemic and posting uplifting messages to social media.

Some of Motes’ students said they see this time as an opportunity to make mature decisions for the greater good of public safety and health.

“It’s a good thing for seniors because we’re showing how much we’re ready to become somebody for other people to look up to,” PHS senior Lilly Gasser said. “For all the things we have to give up, we’re doing it to help ourselves and other people.”

 

Reporter Sarah Cavacini contributed to this report.