Prom is coming up and many students are figuring out what to wear, where to sit, and which shoes to pick. But transportation is at the top of everyone’s minds. New rules and regulations about the transportation to prom this year are entering the conversation. Whether by bus, car, or limo, the ride to prom is always a ride to remember. The change in policy allowing parents to drop off and pick up their kids is very recent, but hopefully will be a big success!
Recently, the issue of parents not being able to drive their kids to prom has been very present in these recent years. But changes are coming, as of now the rule has been changed and parents are now allowed to drop their kids off at prom and pick them up. Vice Principal, Mrs. Neely says that it was a smart decision economically and socially.
“We just all thought that it made more sense for parents, especially as parents of high school age kids ourselves, to be able to drive their children to and from the prom if they wanted to. Not only is it a better economical move but also great for memory making!”
Some people are choosing to take up this offer, while others prefer the original way of transportation. Many services offer bus transportation; this is a fun way to include all your friends because the buses usually hold a much larger number of people. Kate Vo, a junior at Oliver Ames, says that she and her friends are renting a bus for prom and splitting the cost between them.
“For prom, we are getting a huge bus with around 50 people but the bus can hold more. We are all paying about $70 because the bus is really expensive,” Vo said.
There are many reasons why this policy is changing and it’s not due to chance. For a multitude of reasons, many Oliver Ames students have struggled with affording the finances, medical reasons, social reasons, and more for years during prom season. Oliver Ames Principle, Mrs. Cavanaugh says that she believes changing this rule will allow for more inclusion and less financial burden for students.
“In my time here, I’ve had a lot of students approach me and say they have troubles with financing or had a situation where they needed their parents to drive them. We decided to make the change because I don’t see the harm in allowing parents to pick up their kids. From an equity standpoint, I don’t think that it’s fair and we are creating more access to prom for kids by changing this rule,” Mrs. Cavanaugh said.
While having your parents drive you and renting a bus are both fun, many students enjoy the luxurious feeling of a limo. Limos can actually be a lot cheaper than renting a bus and are perfect for smaller groups. Sofia St. Louis, a junior at Oliver Ames, and a few of her friends are renting a limo to make the experience of prom even more enjoyable and special.
“I chose a limo for prom because it is cheaper than a bus, it’s only 80 per person and we have 10 people. I’ve always wanted to ride in one, so I think it will be fun,” St. Louis said.
Regardless of how the students of Oliver Ames are getting to prom this year, that night is going to be a night to remember! The Oliver Ames community is hoping that this change of policy will open up more opportunities for students regardless of financial or any other type of situations.
