ST. JOHN | Parent Alan Podowski on Monday implored Lake Central school officials to send a strong message to students suspected of arriving intoxicated to the prom.

"The group of students involved might potentially have substance abuse issues, and if you don't bring it forth, you would be selling them short," Podowski told the School Board.

"And you're hurting innocent students who went to the prom without drinking and made the right decision and should be commended."

Explusionary hearings are scheduled this week for 23 seniors, but Schererville police have decided not to file criminal charges, calling the May 9 incident an internal school matter.

Superintendent Janet Emerick assured Podowski, the only parent who came to speak at the meeting, that the district is concerned and brainstorming for strategies.

"But we need help from parents and their peer groups," she said. "That's what we're going to be working on next year. We can all work together to make it a good experience, but we can't do it alone."

Podowski, of Dyer, has two daughters at Lake Central, one of whom is a senior who opted not to attend the prom and instead went into Chicago with supervision and friends.

Podowski said the number of students involved in such incidents has been increasing and the prom was not an isolated incident.

"If you believe you got all the kids involved in drinking and using illegal drugs, you are quite naive," he said.

Board members Nancy Gray and Margaret Clark said students who make the right choices outnumber those who don't, and they were upset about the negative publicity.

"We have incredible young people in our schools. Thank you to the Lake Central students that went to the prom and made their parents and school corporation proud," Gray said.

Board member John DeVries said the district would be accused of violating civil rights if students were required to take a breath test before an event.

Both school officials and Podowski expressed frustration that criminal charges would not be filed.