Mayfield High School In Las Cruces Moves To Remote Learning; District Investigates "Secret Prom"

  Under advisement from the New Mexico Public Education Department and the Department of Health, Mayfield High School will voluntarily switch to remote learning for the next ten days while Las Cruces Public Schools investigates allegations that a so-called secret prom occurred over the weekend. Remote learning will be in effect between Friday, April 16 and Monday, April 26 to mitigate any potential spread of COVID-19.  

The district was notified Wednesday that a complaint was filed with the governor’s office alleging the event happened April 10 and involved potentially hundreds of students from Mayfield High School. The event was not sanctioned by Mayfield High School or LCPS and did not happen during school hours. The complaint suggested students engaged in behavior that potentially threatened the health and safety of the student population. 

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.”   

According to LCPS interim superintendent Ralph Ramos, the alleged incident contradicts efforts the district has taken to ensure safety among school populations.  

“Irresponsible out-of-school activities have a tremendous impact on our health status in Doña Ana County,” said Ramos. “We have worked tirelessly to stay in compliance with public health orders to get our students back in the classroom. We’ve advocated for vaccinations, efforts for increased COVID-19 testing, and anything else that essentially gets our county to green. Violating the order against mass gatherings is a disappointing disruption to those efforts.”  

High school administrators will work in conjunction with the district’s central office to conduct an investigation into the initial allegation, including possible implications that students from other high 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.