Sahaj Datta | The Chronicle
Mason High School (MHS) juniors and seniors will celebrate prom a little closer to home this spring, with the annual celebration relocating to a new venue. After years of hosting the dance at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, the event has officially been moved to the Manor House in Mason, a banquet hall only minutes from campus.
Aaron Shaffer, a School Resource Officer (SRO), said the change addresses one of the largest logistical concerns with hosting a school event so far away: transportation safety. He said the long trip has historically played a part in safety concerns from law enforcement, staff and students’ families.
“It’s 2000 students driving 40 minutes to the Roberts Centre, and the same amount of time back,” Shaffer said. “On the highway, at night, in the dark. With Manor House, we don’t have students driving that far away, and people are a lot more comfortable driving in a nearby area.”
In previous years, to reduce unsafe driving, the school would place a model of a drunk-driving car crash outside the high school during prom week. This provided students with a real world visual, a reminder to stay aware of the consequences of unsafe driving.
“Historically, we have had youth on prom night involved in serious car crashes,” Shaffer said. “The demonstration is for awareness of drug and alcohol prevention, but also just general driving safety. It can be dangerous driving at night, especially if you’re not used to being a night driver.”
Jared Rhoten, another MHS SRO, said prom puts many inexperienced drivers in demanding situations late at night. He said they will likely be traveling on unfamiliar roads, such as those in Wilmington or on I-71.
“You have to be careful regardless of where you are driving,” Rhoten said. “But once you add in that time in distance [of the previous prom venue], it makes it less safe.”
Rhoten said that the concern is not only where students are driving but also how much time they’ve had behind the wheel. He said prom night combines several challenges at once for teen drivers.
“Even as a senior, you’ve only been driving for a few years,” Rhoten said. “So you add that inexperience, then you add having multiple kids in the car, and other [distractions] can really overwhelm the driver.”
Rhoten said the lack of distance from MHS to the Manor House affects more than just the risks of student drivers and the relationship between attendees and their community. He said keeping students nearby changes what they do after the dance, from where they eat to where they hang out.
“Having after-prom nearby also makes moving to Manor House [a benefit],” Rhoten said. “Not only is there a reduced risk in [driving], but when [students] already know there’s an event at school with activities and their friends, they’re less likely to go out and [make unsafe choices].”
Because the Roberts Centre sits outside of Mason, MHS had previously partnered with the Wilmington Police Department to provide detailed officers during prom, which prevented MHS’s SROs from being involved in the event. Rhoten said the location change allows him and Officer Shaffer to be directly involved in prom, which is helpful given their established relationships with MHS students.
“A lot of my kids like to tell me about drama,” Shaffer said. “If I know there’s an issue between two students, I know to keep an eye out for any disruption between them. If I don’t know about the animosity, then there could be an altercation that I knew nothing about beforehand.”
Associate Principal of Student Life Brandon Rompies said the location change from Roberts Centre to Manor House has not only been discussed before in terms of transportation safety, but also in terms of size and culture. He said a big decision factor was conversations within the administration about the connection between MHS and Mason.
“Being in Mason, students drive by [Manor House] all the time,” Rompies said. “They know where it’s at: right in the middle of Mason, between Deerfield and Mason Montgomery. Why not have that cool experience as an MHS student, having it right on a road that you’ve grown up driving down numerous times?”
Senior Danisha Sharma said her first prom experience felt more uncertain because of Roberts Centre. She said the change to Manor House would allow students to celebrate in a more familiar area.
“Personally, [Roberts Centre] was not only far away, but it also didn’t feel as safe,” Sharma said. “I think it was because it felt [rural] and there wasn’t a lot of protection, like an easy place to get lost in.”
Despite the benefits of prom being held at Manor House, students like Sharma have concerns about the new location. She said capacity and crowding could affect the experience for all students.
“It’s nice to know that Manor House is closer, but I definitely preferred the location last year,” Sharma said. “I’ve been to Manor House for two different events, and based on our school’s size, I don’t think [the location] is as large and as well-equipped for so many people.”
Senior Tia Kattady said that another consequence of the location change could be parking.
She said students are already discussing arrival and parking logistics, and that the entrance layout has been a frequent topic of conversation among attendees.
“I’ve seen the parking at Manor House, and it’s just going to be insane,” Kattady said. “Not only that, but the turn into Manor House is the tiniest turn in the world; it’s a one-lane road, and you can only turn right. I think getting in and out, and parking, might be an issue there.
Kattady said that although they worry about some aspects of Manor House, they are more focused on the overall event. She said many classmates simply want the event to feel as organized and comfortable as it has in previous years.
“Prom is about having a safe and fun time with your friends,” Kattady said. “The dance can be overwhelming with so many people, so I think the main thing I want the school to do is to make it as stress-free as possible for us.”
Shaffer said that this same goal for the students guided the decision for the adults involved. He said he hopes that at the end of the night, students leave with a positive experience.
“Prom night closes a chapter in these students’ lives,” Shaffer said. “We want them to make both memories and good choices to ensure it’s a safe and fun chapter.”
