Swine flu outbreak leaves prom nights empty

Years from now, 18-year-old Thomas Hickey wanted to remember this evening: for his black tuxedo with ivory touches, for the laughter of friends on their last big party together before graduation and for the applause and shouts of praise as he climbed onstage to be crowned prom king.

Never for swine flu.

But this week, the worldwide outbreak reached Lee V. Pollard High School and turned everything upside-down. After officials at the Corona school learned that a 16-year-old girl had possibly contracted the virus, they were ordered by the Riverside County Department of Public Health to close the school -- and, as a result, call off tonight’s prom.

The cancellation devastated Hickey and many of the 120 or so students planning to experience the big night for the first and only time. With only two days left before the Moroccan-themed party at Fullerton banquet hall, most of the students had already bought dresses and shoes, rented tuxedos and limos and scheduled hair, nail and makeup appointments. A number of girls were seen crying in the school’s hallways after they heard the news.

“It’s heartbreaking because we put so much effort into this and it all went down the drain in a single minute,” said Hickey, student body president.

Proms, graduations, rallies and other spring activities have taken hits in recent days as scores of schools across the country have temporarily closed as a precaution. At Indio High School just east of Palm Springs, prom court announcements were canceled this week after the school temporarily shut down. The prom, scheduled for May 16, remains in limbo.

Classes at Pollard are tentatively set to restart Thursday. Student leaders will then decide how, or if, to move forward with alternative prom plans.

“We’re going to put our heads together next Thursday and see what their desires are and we’ll discuss options,” said Dennis Brandt, a teacher who also works as an activities director.

Students will be refunded their $75-$80 tickets and also be given letters of explanation from the Department of Public Health to show merchants for possible reimbursement.

Plans for the prom, estimated to cost about $21,000, began last year when the school contracted with Cecilia Ridgeway of First Class Events, a longtime event planner.

Ridgeway, who coordinates about 70 proms a year and had already secured banquet halls, caterers and disc jockeys for the Pollard event, said she was unsure how much money she would lose.

“I’m fearful for the rest of the proms I have scheduled now,” Ridgeway said.

For Thereza Antunez, there was supposed to be only one prom.

The senior and five other friends had mapped out the evening in great detail, down to her sparkly black fingernails and toenails. She planned to have her makeup done at the mall, her hair primped by her mom’s friend.

“Now I just have a $150 dress that’s hanging in my closet,” she said.

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esmeralda.bermudez@latimes.com