Minnechaug students explore prom location in Worcester
Date: 10/15/2012
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comWILBRAHAM — Addressing rumors that the Minnechaug Regional High School class of 2013 is planning to host its senior prom at Maxwell Silverman's Banquet & Conference Center at Union Station in Worcester, Principal Stephen Hale stated that the administration is allowing students to research multiple venues.
Historically, the Minnechaug senior prom has taken place at Chez Josef in Agawam; however, Hale said it is not the only option.
"We allow the kids to explore options," he said. "We don't have a contract or an agreement that says we have to have our prom at Chez Josef for the next 25 years or anything."
Hale explained that students came to him to ask permission to explore the possibility of hosting the prom at a banquet facility at the train station located next to Interstate 290 in downtown Worcester, which he granted. In the past, Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough has used the facility for formal events, he added.
The decision, however, will not be made lightly, Hale stressed.
"I told them they could look at it, but they had to consider a lot more factors and I told them that they need to look at other venues. Once they have done that, we will sit down and meet," he said, adding that the prom committee has also already researched the MassMutual Center's ballroom and Chez Josef.
"In the end, the decision is going to be made based on safety, first and foremost, as well as cost and other factors," Hale said.
Hale said he believed a decision would be made soon as he anticipated meeting with students involved as early as this week.
Regardless of where the prom takes place, Hale said he believed the venue would not be the primary factor in making it a great event.
"The prom is the prom and the venue isn't going to change that," he said. "The prom will be special not because of where it happens, but because of what it means for the students."
