Sharon High School is following the lead of many other high schools and is enacting a prom contract. The SHS administration will use other contracts as models and modify them to the needs and environment of our school.

So what exactly is the prom contract? It is a safety pledge that reinforces the importance of making good decisions. The contract outlines Sharon High’s expectations and consequences and emphasizes that both parents and students should commit to a substance-free prom.

“Students don’t need alcohol or drugs to have a good time. What is most important is the safety of students, and we hope that this contract will help students avoid making bad decisions,” said SHS principal Mr. Libano.

There will be a large window of time that is allotted to parents so that they may come to the SHS office and sign the contract. The prom contract that Stoughton High has put in place specifies that “No contracts will be sent home for signing, and no student may purchase a prom ticket until a contract has been signed by both student and parent/guardian.”

Mr. Libano fully expects parents to be behind this and supportive of the contract. The contract that is specific to SHS has been adjusted to meet the needs of our school. Even if guests are over the age of 18, parents still need to come to school during the allotted time period and sign the contract.

Sharon High School plans to put the prom contract into effect as of this year since other nearby schools have already done so. Duxbury, Stoughton, and Oliver Ames are just the first of many on the list of schools that have instituted the contract.

“I think it’s good that our school has a prom contract. This will guarantee everyone’s safety and will avoid drama if students are being asked to leave for breaking the contract. I think this way, everyone will have a fun night,” said assistant principal Ms. Trahan.

Stoughton High’s contract, one of the contracts that SHS will use as a model, indicates that its purpose is “to help ensure that the prom will be a substance-free event. It is our belief that students will live up to their responsibilities if both they and their parents are informed of the school’s expectations and of the consequences for violating the terms of this contact. Student and parents are urged to take the contract seriously and to sign it only if you truly intend to honor it.”

The prom contract will definitely take effect for seniors at Sharon High School. It is yet to be determined if the contract will be used for the junior class prom.

“We hope that both juniors and seniors will have a safe and fun prom!” said Libano.

Mr. Libano has recently informed members of the PTSO about the upcoming prom contract.

Since the after-prom party is sponsored by the PTSO, Libano wants everybody to be on board.

Breathalyzers will now be required for each student so that they may enter the prom. However, if students keep the pledge and abide by the regulations that are outlined by the contract, there will be no consequences that they must face. Libano hopes that this will be the case.

“I think that more and more students will likely realize that the prom contract is not meant to inhibit students from having fun. Instead it’s just a way to ensure that students are safe,” said assistant principal Mr. Fish.