TICKET TRANSITION

STUCO IS INTRODUCING a new digital ticket payment method for prom through a program called MySchoolBucks that will allow students to purchase their tickets online.

For prior dances, students bought tickets with cash or check. But, in an Instagram poll of 276 students, 54% said that they don’t carry cash with them to school. For years now, Bookkeeper Joan Burnett has searched for a way to switch to a digital payment process with reluctance from the district. However, Venmo is too unreliable, a card reader isn’t fast enough and Apple Pay readers are too expensive, according to Burnett. But then they found MySchoolBucks — a service to collect digital payment.

“We’ve been fighting for it for years, and [the district’s] been so hesitant, but I think this is going to work,” Burnett said.

The payment collection through MySchoolBucks will function similarly to online shopping. Students will open the store via a link on East’s website or a QR code, then insert their card information to make the purchase. The money will be directly wired into StuCo’s account.

“My part actually will be much more streamlined because it’ll go right into the account if it goes in through MySchoolBucks,” Burnett said.

With the help of junior StuCo members, Burnett is organizing the exact plan. Students will most likely show their architecture of Union Station, the Prom planning crew won’t be restricted by the historic preservation. Union Station required bringing in professionals to hang decorations and limited what they could put in the space. Starlight is a production house, making it easier to add in lighting and decor.“I think it’s a great spot,” Chalk said. “It’s something that I don’t think you really get to have that experience doing anything else unless you’re a performer... so I think it’s fun to say that you were on the stage at Starlight.” payment receipt to ticket sellers in exchange for a physical ticket. Ticket sales will start the week of April 3 and last until the dance on April 15.

Student Body Treasurer and junior Ira Finkelston predicts that the new method will be efficient and boost ticket sales.

“It’s always a pain when you’re trying to buy tickets,” Finkelston said. “We think that we’re going to be able to have a lot more people at the dances now because more people will be able to buy tickets and won’t forget about it because that’s the biggest problem with it — that people don’t have cash when they’re trying to buy tickets.”

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