Live Oak High School examines options, including keeping senior
prom in town
Live Oak High School is considering changes to its annual Senior Prom in the wake of several incidents at a party after the event.
A 17-year-old Live Oak senior who fell from a three story balcony early Sunday and was seriously injured, and the arrest of an 18-year-old Live Oak graduate for public intoxication were part of an unfortunate series of events following a senior celebration that started last Saturday.
Carly Melert of San Jose was released from Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula following surgeries for a broken leg and wrist.
There was a party atmosphere at the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort after the ball on May 14, with students from as many as five high schools, including Live Oak, renting rooms. Some students were drinking, others just enjoying being with their friends.
In the week following the ball, Live Oak students have discussed and speculated about the unofficial after-prom party.
ASB President Philip Woodworth said Thursday that while students were talking about the unfortunate events, most of those who attended have very good memories of the weekend.
“It’s certainly not all negative talk,” he said. “Not everyone there was drinking. The few who caused the problems, like vandalizing the ice machine, don’t even go to Live Oak. They go (to Monterey) for the hotel party.”
After the original call at approximately 1:30am Sunday when Carly fell from the balcony, Monterey Police were called to return to the hotel and arrested San Martin residents Kevin Wheeler and Christopher Reyes, both 20, on felony vandalism charges.
Earlier, Megan Murphy, 18, of San Jose, was arrested for public intoxication. She is a Live Oak graduate.
Woodworth said when many of the students arrived at the hotel from the ball, which was held at the Club Del Monte at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, they wandered out to the beach and just enjoyed the atmosphere.
“I really enjoyed it, it was a great location,” he said. “For something like this, you want to go somewhere special, some place you will remember.”
Live Oak ASB Director Norm Dow said the club itself, where the Senior Ball has been held for the past five years, has an atmosphere that makes the ball a special experience for students.
“It’s a gorgeous ballroom, built in the 1930’s or ‘40’s,” he said. “There is plenty of room, with a great dance floor and room for taking pictures and plenty of restrooms. There is a beautiful patio that you can go out on, with plants and lights. And kids get excited about going to Monterey. There are all kinds of nice things to see and do there.”
Because some parents are concerned about the distance and the problems at the after-prom party, Live Oak Principal Nick Boden said the school may consider alternatives for next year.
“We’re going to obviously assess the situation, take a look at what happened, take a look at that and make some recommendations,” he said Tuesday. “We’re going to take a look at making some adjustments. It is important to us that kids are safe.”
Although this time of the year, with school winding to a close and preparing for graduation June 10, is busy for students, teachers and administrators, Boden said informal discussions are already taking place.
“There are a lot of different options,” he said. “The idea of taking buses to the event, that idea even surfaced yesterday. We are going to look at a variety of options. We are getting smaller as a school; perhaps we look at doing different things with prom activities.”
Some parents have suggested the event be moved closer to home.
“We have to look at what processes we have in place; the facility is a wonderful facility, but on the other hand, the distance does create some problems for kids,” he said. “Then you have them renting rooms. We have to look and see if we might need to make some adjustments and changes.”
Dow said the distance and the incidents at the after-prom party are different issues.
“Yes, we are always concerned about a long drive, but the one year we put together a school bus to go down there, the only ones on it were the administrators,” he said. “There have always been problems of some sort, there will always be some kids who choose to drink. One year, after the Winter Ball, some kids drove to San Jose to a hotel for their party and got kicked out of the hotel. In my opinion, there are only two reasons for a hotel room, and neither one of them are good for kids.”
Boden said regardless of what is decided for next year, he is very concerned about Carly’s health.
“That was such an unfortunate accident, and I hope the young lady recovers well,” he said. “We send our best wishes for her recovery.”
Accidents like Carly’s also concern police departments.
“Of course, we want to see kids have a safe, fun experience,” Monterey Police Public Information Officer Randy Taylor said Friday. “We are not any different in that than other departments, or school administrators or parents.
“We have a zero tolerance for use of alcohol by minors. This, the kids who were drinking at the resort, that is not a good kickoff to a greater, richer life. By flaunting the laws, the laws that are there to protect them, that’s not an appropriate way to mark this time in their lives. Besides, will they remember the event that is supposed to be so special?”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106, ext. 202.
