No prom for River Valley grad
River Valley board cites midterm policy, denies request on 3-2 vote
By Tim Gallagher Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, April 12, 2007
CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa -- Vernon Gebers won't attend his high school prom this month.
He'll still have prom memories.
Gebers is the River Valley senior we told you about Monday. The young man graduated at midterm in order to work this semester, earning thousands of dollars to get his college career started in the black.
Before graduating early, Gebers signed a document and forfeited privileges to attend prom or do things like act in the school play. He visited his local school board last month, asking board members to reconsider this policy.
They did. On Tuesday, they looked at Gebers and turned him down, voting 3-2 to follow current policy which prohibits midterm graduates from attending prom.
This was local government in action. The board member who made the motion to deny the request, Lyle Paulsen, coached Gebers in youth basketball. Paulsen was joined by Mary Todd and Scott Carnes.
All the board members are volunteers who worked from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday determining a prom date's fate before acting on a multitude of issues, ranging from acceptance of the $4.7 million budget, to buying computers, to determining a hiring plan for a new high school principal. Board members return to school later this week to interview those principal candidates. Again, they don't make a dime for this civic service.
About that prom policy ...
Carnes, a farmer, has served on the River Valley board for nearly 20 years. He shifted in his chair and carefully started the prom discussion, taking fellow members back to the policy's origin.
"I think we put this policy in eight or nine years ago," said Carnes. "Board makeups do change, so do board philosophies. Maybe we do need to review this."
The other shoe fell when Carnes noted Gebers signed his early-graduation request form which amounts to a contract, one defining what he can and cannot do. Prom attendance is prohibited.
"I agree with Lyle and Scott that this is the policy in place," added board member Mary Todd, a secretary. "I'd be open to review it when the time comes. I know as a mother that Vernon and his date would be well-behaved. But I guess as a school board member I have to follow our policies at this point."
"I know things are binding, but people can have a change of heart," argued board member Terry Jensen, an insurance agent.
"It's a tough one," added Kirk Utesch, another farmer. "If we don't stick to our policy, we could be opening a can of worms. But I've also been a chaperone (at prom) who has seen 25- or 26-year-olds who pose more of a concern to me than Vernon. This is probably something we should look at."
But Tuesday wasn't the time. Tuesday's issue concerned Vernon Gebers. After talking about the matter a few feet from Gebers, his girlfriend Barbrae Lee, and his mother, Linda, the board voted and turned him away. Board members teetered on apologetic in doing so.
Gebers looked up and said, "I honestly didn't know that prom was included on the sheet I signed."
"I admire you Vernon for bringing it to our attention," said Utesch. "You represented yourself well when you came before us. Keep it up."
With that, the Gebers party rose and left. After the meeting Gebers said, given the same circumstances, he would have graduated early. He simply needs the $14.71 per hour he makes for college. Besides, he can still attend his girlfriend's school prom that night in nearby Marcus.
It's the process which made this trek memorable.
"I understand the board's reasons," he said. "I don't support their decision, but I respect it."
While classmates will leave the River Valley after-prom party with prizes like CD players and 12-packs of Mountain Dew, Vernon Gebers will have this consolation: Knowledge his local school board will review this policy.
"I'm glad I could make a difference and get some people thinking about it," Gebers said. "I walked out of there with my dignity intact. This was a good life lesson, you could say."
Memorable one, too.
He'll still have prom memories.
Gebers is the River Valley senior we told you about Monday. The young man graduated at midterm in order to work this semester, earning thousands of dollars to get his college career started in the black.
Before graduating early, Gebers signed a document and forfeited privileges to attend prom or do things like act in the school play. He visited his local school board last month, asking board members to reconsider this policy.
They did. On Tuesday, they looked at Gebers and turned him down, voting 3-2 to follow current policy which prohibits midterm graduates from attending prom.
This was local government in action. The board member who made the motion to deny the request, Lyle Paulsen, coached Gebers in youth basketball. Paulsen was joined by Mary Todd and Scott Carnes.
All the board members are volunteers who worked from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday determining a prom date's fate before acting on a multitude of issues, ranging from acceptance of the $4.7 million budget, to buying computers, to determining a hiring plan for a new high school principal. Board members return to school later this week to interview those principal candidates. Again, they don't make a dime for this civic service.
About that prom policy ...
Carnes, a farmer, has served on the River Valley board for nearly 20 years. He shifted in his chair and carefully started the prom discussion, taking fellow members back to the policy's origin.
"I think we put this policy in eight or nine years ago," said Carnes. "Board makeups do change, so do board philosophies. Maybe we do need to review this."
The other shoe fell when Carnes noted Gebers signed his early-graduation request form which amounts to a contract, one defining what he can and cannot do. Prom attendance is prohibited.
"I agree with Lyle and Scott that this is the policy in place," added board member Mary Todd, a secretary. "I'd be open to review it when the time comes. I know as a mother that Vernon and his date would be well-behaved. But I guess as a school board member I have to follow our policies at this point."
"I know things are binding, but people can have a change of heart," argued board member Terry Jensen, an insurance agent.
"It's a tough one," added Kirk Utesch, another farmer. "If we don't stick to our policy, we could be opening a can of worms. But I've also been a chaperone (at prom) who has seen 25- or 26-year-olds who pose more of a concern to me than Vernon. This is probably something we should look at."
But Tuesday wasn't the time. Tuesday's issue concerned Vernon Gebers. After talking about the matter a few feet from Gebers, his girlfriend Barbrae Lee, and his mother, Linda, the board voted and turned him away. Board members teetered on apologetic in doing so.
Gebers looked up and said, "I honestly didn't know that prom was included on the sheet I signed."
"I admire you Vernon for bringing it to our attention," said Utesch. "You represented yourself well when you came before us. Keep it up."
With that, the Gebers party rose and left. After the meeting Gebers said, given the same circumstances, he would have graduated early. He simply needs the $14.71 per hour he makes for college. Besides, he can still attend his girlfriend's school prom that night in nearby Marcus.
It's the process which made this trek memorable.
"I understand the board's reasons," he said. "I don't support their decision, but I respect it."
While classmates will leave the River Valley after-prom party with prizes like CD players and 12-packs of Mountain Dew, Vernon Gebers will have this consolation: Knowledge his local school board will review this policy.
"I'm glad I could make a difference and get some people thinking about it," Gebers said. "I walked out of there with my dignity intact. This was a good life lesson, you could say."
Memorable one, too.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 9 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
No Name Please wrote on Apr 18, 2007 10:42 AM:
Anonymous wrote on Apr 16, 2007 7:11 AM:
Anonymous wrote on Apr 15, 2007 11:10 AM:
Anonomous wrote on Apr 15, 2007 10:08 AM:
Brett wrote on Apr 12, 2007 11:53 PM: