Shelton Principal: Prom Ban Lifted

Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith has reversed course and will now allow James Tate to attend his senior prom. The student had been banned from the prom after being suspended for climbing atop a ladder and hanging a prom date proposal on the exterior of Shelton High School last week.

The ban sparked international outrage and while Smith had said earlier this week that she would not lift the ban, she reversed course Saturday morning.

"The key to successful educational eladers is to foster an environment where student achieement is the primary focus," she said. "I never thought that such a decision would lead to international notoriety as I make tough unpopular decisions on a daily basis.

"I have considered the effect that this incident has had on the individual student, on the entire student body, and my staff and the community. At the end of the day, this is a school whose primary responsibilty is to provide the best edicatuion for each student and it is my job that this transpires.

"Throughout the past week the level of distraction created by this incident has affected the culture of Shelton High School, one that I have worked hard to establish.

"In an effort to maintain the focus on teaching and learning I have decided to implement alternate consequences on a case by case basis beginning with James Tate and for other students who received internal suspensions after April 1, which would then permit some to attend the Shelton High prom."

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