This year’s Snowcoming dance signaled a new policy at FHN. Now, before students purchase a dance ticket, they must complete a form stating they have no unpaid fines. The form must then be approved and signed by both a librarian and a principal.

“It’s helping the school district recover money we lost for books, uniforms, and other fines students have not paid,” principal Darlene Jones said. “This way we don’t have to spend the money to replace them.”

The district has accumulated thousands of dollars due to fines over the years, which they cannot afford to pay off. Students are being asked to step up to the plate to pay off fines.

“It’s making them grow up and become adults,” librarian Angie Gunnel said. “It makes them take on more adult responsibilities.”

Even though the school sees it as a positive, some students are not fond of the policy.

“I find it a waste of my time,” freshman Tori Alexander said. “I don’t want to worry about all of that just to go to a dance.”

On a more severe note, many feel the new policy had much to do with the fact that the attendance at this year’s Snowcoming dance was much less than last year’s. While last year’s dance had about 800 students, this year’s only had roughly 400.

“I don’t think many people are buying the tickets because they don’t want to do the work,” sophomore Allyson Rebhan.

This newest policy has proven to be a learning process for students and staff alike.

“It’s helping them understand that they are responsible for their fines and that they can have the privilege to buy a ticket if these fines are paid,” Jones said.