Carol Zechman and her son Paul Zechman, a senior at South Portland High School, pose for a photo at their home on April 29. Carol has led an effort, along with other South Portland parents, to organize a prom for the seniors. The parents began the process after anticipating the school wouldn’t hold one this year because of the pandemic. The prom will be held in mid-June, after graduation, at Portland’s Ocean Gateway. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

A few months ago when it seemed unlikely South Portland High School would be able to hold a prom this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, Carol Zechman reached out to some other parents to see if they could organize something for a small group of students in her son’s circle of friends.

Then the state relaxed capacity limits for large group gatherings and Zechman started thinking about whether it would be possible to have a prom for the whole senior class. The parents convened a prom planning committee, secured a caterer and booked a venue, Ocean Gateway in Portland.

They set up fundraisers and have raised enough money for the event, which will be held June 13, the Sunday after graduation, to be free for the senior class, though dates who are not members of the South Portland Class of 2021 will have to pay $40.

“I felt like, ‘Why not try and do something if we can?'” Zechman said. “If we can do something that meets the guidelines and will be an aspect of senior year that most seniors look forward to, I just felt like, ‘Why wouldn’t I try and make something happen?'”

For many high school students prom, with its sparkly dresses, photo opps and trendy music, is one of the most anticipated nights of the year. But because of the pandemic most high schools canceled prom last year and many are doing so again this year, citing physical distancing requirements for schools.

Portland’s three high schools won’t hold proms and neither will Westbrook, Yarmouth or Cape Elizabeth. But some schools, parents and students are getting creative to come up with their own non-traditional proms. The events raise questions about COVID safety, particularly when it comes to dancing, but organizers said they feel confident they can host a prom, even if it looks a little different, while also keeping within pandemic restrictions.

An announcement this week from the state that physical distancing and capacity limits will be eased later this month could make it easier to hold large events like proms, though the state has yet to update its guidance for schools and it remains unclear whether activities like dancing still carry risks.

“The CDC can make whatever changes they want but until it comes from the Department of Education, it doesn’t change anything with us,” said Stephanie Moutsatsos, prom adviser at Old Orchard Beach High School, which is planning on holding a hybrid event combining prom and senior night on Saturday at River Wind Farm in Saco.

There won’t be any dancing, but there will be a comedy hypnotist show, a walk-in photo booth, and a DJ and emcee on hand to keep the mood upbeat. Students can dress up, but they’ll have to wear masks when not eating. They also won’t be able to bring dates from other schools. The high school’s small size – they’re expecting 75 people total including chaperones – has helped make it more manageable.

From left, Isaac LaChance, Santino Perrone, Kaitlin Halle, Shani Plante and Jess Lavigne walk in their prom outfits at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach on Tuesday. The students all plan to attend the school’s prom on Saturday. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

Santino Perrone, a junior on the prom committee, said no dancing is a big drawback for students and he wishes the junior class, which typically hosts prom for the seniors, was able to offer that. “But I think with the virus going on now we have more strict restrictions in place,” said Perrone, 17. “A lot of people are upset about the no dancing and they think it’s kind of silly, but you have to look at both sides of it.”

Shani Plante, a senior at Old Orchard Beach High School, has had her dress picked out since early April. It’s dark green and simple, which Plante said was intentional as she wants to be comfortable. “I didn’t want to go all out because I think since we can’t dance there will be games and other activities,” said Plante, 18. “I wanted to be a little more comfortable than normal, so it’s not super fancy but it is a nice formal dress.”

Earlier in the school year, Plante said she didn’t think there would be any end-of-the-year celebrations. “I’m really thrilled we were able to come up with something and that things are kind of looking up,” Plante said. “We’re doing a prom and we’re also having a somewhat normal graduation, so I’m just really thankful because I know last year the seniors weren’t able to do anything.”

Some schools that are skipping prom this year are organizing different events to celebrate seniors or the end of the school year, such as game days, picnics or senior dinners. At Greely High School in Cumberland, junior Alex Collins is among a group of students organizing a beach day for her class in place of the traditional junior-senior prom.

“There was definitely some disappointment (about not having a prom),” Collins said. “I think the goal after realizing we couldn’t have a normal prom was to just hope to do something for the class all together, especially after this year when we’ve been so segregated.”

Maine’s COVID guidelines for large gatherings now call for no more than 50 percent capacity or 50 people indoors, whichever is greater, and 75 percent capacity outdoors. On May 24 the state plans to lift all capacity limits and physical distancing requirements outdoors and all capacity limits at public indoor venues. Physical distancing requirements also are eliminated, except in settings where people are eating or drinking and therefore would be removing their face coverings.

The current guidance doesn’t prohibit dancing, but says dancing and other activities, such as singing, yelling and sports, can increase the transmission risk of COVID-19, and it was unclear Friday whether that might change.

At Bonny Eagle High School, a senior prom is planned for May 21 at an outdoor tent on school grounds. Students will be able to vote for prom king and queen, have photos taken and enjoy deserts and hors d’oeuvres. Selena Leavitt, interim dean of students at Bonny Eagle, said that option will allow for easier social distancing than a sit-down dinner.

Dancing will be allowed but students are expected to maintain physical distancing while doing so, with no exceptions for dates. Leavitt said they are considering line dancing as those songs would make it easier for students to space out. “I think it will be safe,” Leavitt said. “We’ve given these guidelines to the students and their parents. They’re on the tickets as they buy them and we’re going to tell people, ‘If you can’t stay apart, we will ask you to leave.'”

In South Portland, Zechman said they also plan to include dancing at the prom and are working with the venue to determine what the new guidance will mean. Prior to the release of the state’s plan to ease restrictions, Zechman said she still felt the event would be safe, citing the likelihood many students will be vaccinated by the prom date in mid-June. According to the Maine CDC, about 29 percent of young people ages 16 to 19 in Cumberland County are fully vaccinated and more than 51 percent have received at least one shot.

“I feel like the venue is following CDC guidelines and we’ll be following that guidance as well,” Zechman said. “I think it will be very safe now that I see the vaccination uptick in our county.”

South Portland High School Principal Michele LaForge said the school is not holding a prom this year – the event organized by parents is not sponsored by the school – because guidance for school events still require 3 to 6 feet of distance between students. “I’m not sure how you do that while dancing,” LaForge said in an email. “So it is a blow for sure, to both students and teachers. I don’t know of any school that is holding a prom.”

LaForge said she was aware some parents are organizing a prom for after graduation, but declined to comment on their plans.

The past school year has been a hard one for high school seniors who have been learning in-person two days per week, said Zechman and her son, Paul Zechman, who are hoping the event will be a way to provide some sense of normalcy. “Prom is definitely always something everyone wants to go to,” Paul Zechman said. “I would have been upset if we didn’t have some sort of prom so I’m happy we’re trying to make it as normal as possible.”

Connor Dobson, who is also a senior in South Portland, was disappointed when the pandemic hit and upended the school year. High school students have been attending school in different cohorts, so there have been few opportunities for the senior class to be together, he said. “The fact the parents stepped up and tried to make something for the seniors this year, is amazing,” said Dobson, 17. “I’m grateful we have the opportunity to have some sort of normalcy and our last hurrah together.”