The good news is that it looks like high school seniors are going to be able to hold proms this year.  The bad news is that it looks like there are going to be a lot of hoops to jump through.

It's never easy to plan a prom.  It's even harder when you have to plan it during a pandemic.  If you're hoping to have a prom this year, there will be quite a few rules that will have to be followed.  They can start scheduling proms as of June 1st.

According to WIVB, these are the NYS Guidelines for proms and balls:

  • Attendees should not congregate with people who aren't at their table and should only be standing when necessary.
  • Cocktail hours can happen in areas where students are allowed to stand, but masks should be worn when they are not eating or drinking.  Attendees must not remove their face covering and must not consume food and beverage if members of different parties are within six feet.
  • Live entertainment or DJ's can play but must be separated from other attendees by either 12 feet or a physical barrier.
  • Attendees can dance with other members of their party in a designated dance area that will allow all people to stay 6 feet away from each other.  They must wear a mask while they dance.

They also had suggestions to help aid in social distancing like staggering times that people can dance to avoid having too many people on the floor at the same time, staggering eating times so that there aren't too many people at the buffet at the same time, and making sure that passed hor d'oveurs are individually packaged to avoid touching of any shared surfaces.

The events are subject to inspection by State and local health authorities to ensure compliance with all provisions of State-issued guidance.

So it looks like there is a lot to watch for chaperones and organizers this year.  But if it's important that you have the event, these are the things they will ask you to do.

 

In Pictures: What Education Looks Like Around the World During a Pandemic

 

 

More From The New 96.1 WTSS