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"No one in the school district, nor the students, board or administration had any intention to disrupt the business community," said Lottmann "They are an intricate part of what we do at the high school and without them we couldn't educate students like we do."
"I personally would like to apologize to the business community but it was not our intention to cause a disruption," Lottmann added.
He said the Gala Event Center is scheduled to be completed in March and prom will be held April 25.
"I am supposed to get back with them today (Tuesday)," Lottmann remarked. "We went to see it last night and it would a be wonderful place to have the prom, but if we can't afford it we will bring it back on campus."
The Union R-XI School Board approved the request of junior class officers and sponsors to hold the annual event at the VFW Hall in Washington. The measure passed with a 4-1 vote with Tom Stahlman casting the sole dissenting vote. Board members Valorie Steinbeck, Dan Hall, Pam Janssen and Teresa Connelly voted in favor of the students' request to hold the prom off campus.
UHS Junior Class officers said holding the prom off campus would be "more enjoyable" to students. The prom is organized each year by UHS juniors for the senior class. In past years the prom has been held at the school.
Lottmann said students did try to book the prom at the Union City Auditorium, prior to looking outside of Union, but an event already is scheduled there April 25.
District administrators and school board members said they received numerous calls from Union business owners upset with the decision to allow the prom to be held outside of Union. Several calls also were made to The Missourian by upset business owners.
James Cooper, local developer and owner of Oasis Lanes, told The Missourian that he speaks for several other business owners, when he said plans to move the prom out of the community angered him.
"All businesses in Union feel we've donated to all the causes that kids ask for any given time, whether it be the yearbook, fundraiser for DECA, booster clubs or other organizations like that," said Cooper. "We are happy to support them but if this thing was held in Washington, I feel like it would be a slap in the face to all of us."
Cooper added that a large percentage of real estate taxes fund the school district.
"Not to mention that the kids have one of the nicest schools in the county. They should be proud to host it in the school or at least in their own community. Everybody in town needs to have community pride," Cooper added. "The reason it all works is that the local businesses and residents are paying their share of the taxes and supporting the school district."
See page 4U of this edition of The Missourian for a letter to the editor written by local business owners.
Lottmann noted that while planning the prom, students and prom sponsors did not intend to anger community members. He added that if the prom is held at UHS, administrators and organizers hope the dance is well attended.
