The mother of a Marian Catholic High School senior believes she has proof that her son should be allowed to bring his 14-year-old date to his prom.

The school has denied the request of Tyler Zakrzewksi to bring his date to the school’s prom Friday at Capriotti’s in McAdoo because the girl is in seventh grade.

In response, Eva Zakrzewski, Tyler’s mother, posted on Facebook a letter sent by Marian Catholic High School to parents.

According to the letter provided by Zakrzewski, dated April 4, “No guest may be older than 21 years of age or younger than 14 years old.”

In response to the information provided by Eva, school Principal Jean Susko offered the following response.

“The mother acknowledged that the child is in seventh grade and did not meet both qualifications,” Susko said. “The guest form requires a proof of identification, and requires the guest to be in high school. The mother knew it, and questioned it herself. The only verification that Marian Catholic received was a seventh grade student ID.”

Tyler is going to be 18 in August, and developmentally comes in at about 15, his mother said. His date is a 14-year-old family friend from New Jersey.

Zakrzewski, of Franklin Township, believes it wouldn’t be inappropriate for Tyler’s friend at 14 to accompany him to the prom.

However, Susko said Wednesday that’s against the school’s policy; that the event is a senior prom, and that guests have to follow the guidelines of being at least high school age, but no older than 20.

Zakrzewski posted on Facebook that the tuxedo, tickets, prom dress, shoes, and flowers have already been paid. She said they paid $150 for a tuxedo, $50 for shoes, $130 for tickets, and $60 for flowers.

Zakrzewski said she called the archdiocese, which explained the rule to her that her son’s date had to be in high school, or age 19 or 20.

Ultimately, Zakrzewski said she was told it was the school principal’s decision to make.

The school has not deposited his check, according to Susko, who said the school was waiting to hear his response about attendance. Susko said the school would then refund the difference.

Regardless, Susko said Tyler “continues to have the opportunity to come to his senior prom. Tyler has always been welcome to come to his senior prom,” she said. “He has never been denied.”

“He can also bring another guest, but that guest has to follow the guidelines of at least ninth grade or higher, but no older than 20,” Susko said.

Zakrzewski said, “We have decided that our son and his escort will go to the prom venue Friday and take some photos with his classmates outside; then we will come home and celebrate the prom. We are donating the $130 cost of the tickets to another senior student that is a little behind in tuition.”

Zakrzewski added that there will be a large group of people throwing a full-blown prom at their house Friday night.

“Our whole basement will be a major prom,” she said.

On Tuesday, the school said in a statement that every student received this information in April.

All six Allentown Diocesan high schools (grades 9-12) adhere to the same policy for guests, according to the Marian statement.

“While the seventh-grade guest was denied, the senior has always been and is still invited to participate in his senior prom. Marian Catholic continues to develop high school students spiritually, morally, academically and socially.