Elementary school PTO opposes daughter bringing mom to father-daughter dance

BY JUDY LE
FOX4 KC

LAWSON, Mo. - It's Father-Daughter Dance time for many schools, usually right around Valentine's Day. Southwest Elementary in Lawson is already prepared.

An eight-year-old girl was expecting to go to the father-daughter dance at her school, but the person she asked to go with her, her father figure, was denied

When Meghan asked her mom to go to a dance as her date ...

"To me that's an honor," said Shawna Steeves of her daughter's request.

Steeves checked with the school first because it was a daddy-daughter dance. When the principal agreed, the girls went dress shopping with a budget of $20.

"It's beautiful, it's gorgeous, it's everything she wanted," she said of the white and black dress with a purple sash. Purple is Meghan's favorite color.

But the Southwest Parent-Teacher Organization hosts the event and has the final call on all decisions. To keep with integrity of the theme, Steeves was later told she couldn't take her daughter.

"If you're going to have that and you're going to tell someone to bring their father figure, why not me? I'm just as good," she said.

The PTO president says any male figure is an option including friends, uncles, and grandfathers. There are also other events to attend.

Kacey Collier, the Southwest PTO president, issued this statement:

"Our PTO works very hard at creating events that give ample opportunity for all families to participant in throughout the year. Regarding the situation with this event there were several options given to this family and all families so that all Southwest elementary school aged girls are welcome to attend regardless of their family situation. Our goal is to keep this special event authentic. We offer many other events that are family oriented. Examples would be muffins with mom and donuts with dad, the family 5 k walk/run, pancakes with Santa, Trunk or treat and our mother-son challenge. We are very proud of our organization and what we do for the students and our community."

"I would love to find a substitute so she could go. I have. She ultimately turns around and says, 'you're my mom and you're my dad, and I would love to go with you,'" said Steeves.

Steeves just moved to the neighborhood two months ago to be closer to family. When Meghan found out what happened, she said she will write a letter and address this matter to the school.

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