By Stephen J. Bronner
Both George W. Hewlett High School and Lawrence High School host preventive events during the school year along with the Fourth Precinct and the Nassau County District Attorney's office and require seniors and parents to sign a contract stipulating students will not use substances at prom. Principals also said that students are monitored for alcohol and drug use upon entering prom by faculty members and by the limo and bus drivers who bring them to the event.
�A student who crosses the line will be barred from graduation and there will be appropriate police action action, as well as not being admitted to the prom,� said Lawrence Principal Geoffrey Touretz. �We also warn parents about the risk they take by hosting prom parties and how embarrassing it would be for parents to receive the publicity and police attention in that regard.�
Hewlett principal Tom Russo said the contracts have been effective. �Two years ago, there were some problems,� Russo said. �Last year, we added the contract mandating you couldn't walk at graduation. Last year, there were no problems.�
While many seniors simply want to have a night of fun and dancing, there have been a few instances of students breaking the rules over the years, some as recent as two years ago, Russo said, to merit increased action on the schools� part. In both Lawrence and Hewlett, students who are found to be under the influence or in possession of drugs and alcohol will be removed from the prom and may also face the loss of participation at graduation, criminal prosecution and embarrassing notifications to parents and colleges.
The two high schools differ in their post-prom monitoring of students. Lawrence's prom is June 25, and its graduation is June 29. �It'll come down to parent responsibility,� Touretz said. �We have to be understanding of the limits to that and take care of student behavior on our watch.�
Hewlett's prom was June 24 and its graduation is June 25. As part of Hewlett's festivities, all seniors must attend a post-prom party a 1 a.m., a half-hour after the prom ends. The party was moved up from 3 a.m. so there wouldn't be a break between it and the prom, Russo said.
�We have 20 parents and/or teachers who are here during the event, so it's well supervised,� Russo said. �Each student must sign in to get their name checked off.� If students fail to check in, they cannot participate in Hewlett's graduation ceremony.
The schools also work with the Fourth Precinct to prevent and stop parties. �We get a lot of tips from the schools, the principals and assistant principals; we go to the parties and check them out,� said Officer Charlie Zanni of the Fourth Precinct's Problem Oriented Policing unit. �Hopefully we prevent them and they don't get that far, if not, then we stop them.�
Touretz wrote in a letter to parents that the school has concerns about the choices students make, and that they need to follow the rules. �It is disheartening to think that I have to warn you about these issues, but it would be na�ve to think that such warnings are not needed,� he wrote. �I know that, if we work together, we can keep the Senior Prom and Senior Banquet wonderful celebrations of our students' energy, vitality, and accomplishments.�
Andrew Strunk, Lawrence's 2009 valedictorian, said he thinks that the school's prevention measures are appropriate and necessary. �It'll happen regardless, but the school should do whatever it can to lessen the extent of drinking and drug use,� Strunk said. �It's a night to have fun, but there's no excuse to take it that far.�
Comments about this story? SBronner@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
