Teen turned away at prom

CURRITUCK CO., N.C. (WAVY) - A 14-year-old girl was turned away at her date's junior prom because she left school to go to a scheduled doctor's appointment.

Pictures taken before her big night at Currituck County High School show 14-year-old Hunter Gallagher grinning ear to ear, her date at her side. In some, she's standing side by side her older sister. These would be the last pictures of Hunter smiling that night.

"I went into the prom and I was about to talk to one of my teachers and the lady came and grabbed me out and said she needed to talk to me."

The talk? Hunter's mother had signed her out of school earlier in the day for a doctor's appointment scheduled six months ago in Virginia. According to school administrators, students had to attend two full classes to go prom that night. Hunter left an hour shy of the time allowed.

WAVY.com contacted the school district and officials there couldn't comment about a specific student. District spokesperson Melissa Jensen provided the following statement, "It is not our goal for students to miss prom, and we regret this occurred. Expectations concerning student attendance were clearly communicated to students well in advance of the prom. Administrators worked with every person who approached them prior to the day of prom."

Jensen says the prom policy was communicated during morning announcements. It's a time Hunter says is extremely noisy as students settle in. No paperwork was sent home.

Hunter's mom Karen got the call. "Of course she calls you at 9 o'clock crying, they won't let me in Mom."

Karen Gallagher says even when she showed officials at the prom a doctor's note, they refused to budge. She believes the school could have handled the matter differently, giving her daughter and her date their dream night.

"When she goes to sleep at night she doesn't remember she danced in Cole's arm and maybe even shared a kiss, God forbid as a mother, but you know those are what life is about, the small memories," says Gallagher.

Hunter wasn't the only student turned away that night. School officials say several were turned away due to attendance issues. We learned any student turned away can receive a refund on the $80 tickets, just contact the school.

We contacted state officials who say while they have a policy regarding excused absences, they leave a prom policy up to each school.