Burrell parents organize homecoming dance for high school students

As coronavirus-related restrictions limit large indoor gatherings, school districts are not offering all of the traditional events they normally would.

So parents of Burrell High School students took matters into their own hands, organizing a homecoming dance Saturday evening in the ballroom of the Quality Inn in New Kensington.

“When we were told that the school would not be holding the dance, this was one more thing we didn’t want them to miss out on,” said Lower Burrell’s Laura Fisher, who has a daughter at the high school and is one of a handful of Burrell mothers organizing the event.

Burrell Superintendent Shannon Wagner said the dance is not a school-sponsored event.

State Department of Health spokesman Nate Wardle said the event is allowable under state guidelines. The size of gatherings is restricted to a percentage of the maximum occupancy of a facility.

“As long as they follow the occupancy chart for an event, maintain social distancing and wear a mask, they are not out of compliance,” Wardle said. “However, it is important for anyone hosting or attending a gathering to play their part in reducing the spread of covid-19.”

The Burrell mothers did some number-crunching and found Quality Inn’s ballroom could comply by hosting as many as 440 people, but it allowed only up to 250. The mothers reduced that further by offering 150 tickets, Fisher said.

The most challenging part of organizing the dance was getting the word out, Fisher said. Since it is not a school-sanctioned event, the dance organizers didn’t have access to all of the students’ contact information. So they have relied on word of mouth and social media to promote the event.

Students have to sign a health waiver and a covid-19 release form to attend, and there will be a temperature check. People are required to wear masks when entering and exiting the building and in public hallways. They don’t have to wear masks while eating and drinking.

“I feel we have done everything that has been asked of us to do,” Fisher said. “I feel it is as safe as it could possibly be. I feel more comfortable with my teenager being there with the restrictions than I do walking into Walmart to shop.”

There will be no slow dancing, and Fisher thinks the dance floor is large enough for groups to be distanced.

Parent chaperones will be present to ensure students are following the rules, she added.