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Las Cruces Public Schools Urges Safe Practices While ‘Secret Prom’ Investigation Continues

Mayfield High School

  Las Cruces Public Schools continues to investigate allegations of unsafe student behavior following a complaint that a so-called secret prom took place over the weekend, violating New Mexico’s public health order against mass gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The situation forced a return to remote learning for Mayfield High School.

The New Mexico Administrative Code extends local school district authority to include “the discipline of students for out-of-school conduct having a direct and immediate effect on school discipline or the general safety and welfare of the school.”   

Friday, the New Mexico Department of Health and the Public Education Department joined LCPS to encourage parents and students to continue COVID-safe practices in order to protect traditional end-of-semester celebrations, like graduation ceremonies.  

The advice comes after last weekend’s event and as high school principals learned of a gathering scheduled next week that included seniors districtwide. Principals are communicating with parents in advance of the event, encouraging them to send their students to school to avoid a potential quarantine or shift to remote learning at other schools. 

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define superspreader events as any large gatherings of people in which the COVID-19 virus can knowingly or unknowingly be transmitted by a person or persons to others, who in turn would go home or out in their communities and spread it to others. 

“The implications of this ‘secret prom’ or any superspreader event is potentially enormous for any community,” said NMDOH spokesperson David Morgan. “For Doña Ana County, it poses the health risks of an increase in COVID-19 cases. It increases the potential, particularly among those unvaccinated, for severe illnesses related to the virus. It can potentially put people’s lives at risk. It can lead to school activities being cancelled. It can also have an economic impact on the community by putting the community back in the red zone of the state’s Red to Green to Turquoise framework that will again restrict local businesses, recreational facilities and houses of worship to 25 percent maximum capacity, indoors or out.”  

 Currently, Doña Ana County is in the yellow zone, allowing for 33 percent maximum capacity.  

 The Department of Health reports any individuals who facilitate ‘secret proms’ or other superspreader events will be held accountable civilly and/or criminally. 

"Educators across New Mexico worked tirelessly over many months to establish protocols to make our schools safe for students, staff and communities,” said Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart. “It's heartbreaking to see those protocols flouted in a way that endangers an entire community and interrupts in-person learning for others. While it is the school district's prerogative to discipline those involved as it sees fit, the Public Education Department fully supports Las Cruces Public Schools and every other district in their efforts to enforce all of the safety measures we have in place."  

            NMPED Deputy Secretary Gwendolyn Perea Warniment echoed Stewart’s comments, underscoring the responsibility a community carries to protect the safety and welfare of our children.  

“While acknowledging the desire for students to want to return to normal and celebrate seeing their friends,” said Warniment, “it is extremely disappointing that adults and students alike would imperil their own health and the health of others for a few hours of self-gratification. Educators and district officials have worked hard to make schools safe for in-person learning.  We believe most New Mexicans share our disappointment and ask them to redouble efforts to fight COVID fatigue and do what we must to keep each other safe."  

The investigation  

Initial information contained in the complaint suggested hundreds of students, mostly from Mayfield High School, attended a dance that took place on April 10. The event was not sponsored by the school and district administrators were not aware of the event until Wednesday when the complaint was forwarded from the governor’s office.  

Late Thursday, LCPS interim superintendent Ralph Ramos made the decision to voluntarily shift Mayfield students to remote learning for 10 days to mitigate any possible spread of infection among students. The decision came under advisement by the Public Education Department, in collaboration with recommendations by the Department of Health.  

Administrators from all district high schools, in conjunction with the district’s central office, are investigating the incident to determine what impact, if any, on in-person learning and in-person activities. It is believed students from other schools may have been in attendance at this event or organized similar events. Anyone with information that could assist in that investigation is asked to call LCPS, (575) 527-5808. 

Friday, DOH officials confirmed that violations of the public health order will be enforced at the state level.  

Preventive measures 

Families can help keep Doña Ana County in the yellow by adhering to public health orders and recommendations from the DOH: 

 

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to you. 

  • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others and stop the spread of COVID-19. 

  • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others who don’t live with you. 

  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. 

  • Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily. 

  • Monitor your health daily.