CLYMER — Clymer Central School officials expect to have a junior-senior prom this year — though planning the event has not been easy.

Beth Olson, district superintendent, said she has told class advisers and Brianne Fadale, high school principal, to begin planning a host of spring events that include prom. Her advice has been to plan for heavy restrictions and then to change as state guidance changes. A parent who attended Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting asked for more information specifically about prom. Her concern was that parents trying to plan an after-prom party need to have information about the prom so they can plan after-prom.

The discussion quickly showed how difficult it will be for Clymer, and other schools throughout the state, to try to plan prom this year.

“So far there are a couple of different venues that are in play,” Olson said. The venues, I don’t want to say they’re being difficult, but they’re under restrictions too. One of the venues, they were talking with is saying, ‘Well, how are you going to police dancing?’ Let’s say the wedding guidelines that came out, the only people who can dance are the people who sat at the same table. There are just so many restrictions with these groups. I think they’re going to lessen up. I told the advisers if you can schedule that venue still try to do so and give them that. We’re going to be under the restrictions at the time. If we can’t do dancing we’ll find another activity for them to do so that they can still have their prom. The other venue that they were working with, they were requiring a negative COVID test to attend. I’m not saying you can’t do it, I’m just not sure how we would do that at this point in order to ensure that everyone can attend.”

Wedding guidelines announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office restrict venues to 50% capacity and no more than 150 people. Starting March 15, anyone attending a wedding or other large social gathering in New York must provide proof of a negative COVID result within 72 hours of the event or proof of an antigen test performed within six hours of the party. Anyone attending must sign in with contact tracing information. Venues must notify local health departments of large events above the social gathering limit in advance.

Dancers are supposed to stay in “designated and clearly marked” areas or zones on the dance floor at least 6 feet away from other dancers.

“These are some of the hurdles that we’re working on,” Olson said. “Also, what’s the right date? They had a date of May 1, they have all the way through May 31. Just to add fuel to the fire you have fall 2 (sports) that are playing into that. They have a vote (Thursday) on a date. I would recommend, if I was talking to these students, I would recommend the later in the month you can go because I think restrictions are going to lighten up the further we go down the road. We’ll have more guidance as far as graduation and I think they all sort of go hand in hand.”

Olson said it is important for Clymer to get a date nailed down soon because other schools are trying to schedule their proms as well — and venues are also working with brides and grooms to schedule weddings.

“We have two years of weddings that have been pushed off and these same venues are the same venues they’re using for weddings,” she said. “We’re going to do our darnedest to make sure we have a venue. As soon as we have a venue and a date I think the information is going to come out fast and furious.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, the Clymer Central School Board of Education approved the senior class trip to Lake George. The trip includes a stay at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark, a day at the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, a dinner cruise and a visit to the Adirondack River Outfitters’ aerial rope course.

“I thought it sounded like fun,” said board member Carole Silverline. “I know from past senior trips they usually try to tie something educational into the trip. These kids have missed out on so much, I think a fun trip without that is great. … That’s just my opinion but I think they deserve it.”