LAKE MARY, Fla. — Some students in Central Florida are facing a tough decision between religion or prom.

In Seminole County, both Lake Mary High School and Lyman High School have their proms scheduled for April 12.

It’s a Saturday night for most, but for those in the Jewish community, it happens to fall on the first night of Passover, which parents believe could have been avoided.

Parent Noelle Rivers says her daughter Jaynie came home crying over the issue, saying she is now having to weigh going to prom or being home with the family for Passover. that prom was on the same night the family would be celebrating Passover.

“I think a lot of people who are really into being Christian would say Easter is actually the big day, but most people observe Christmas,” Rivers said. “It’s kind of the same way for Jews, like of course the holidays are in the fall and the high holidays are the big ones, but everyone observes Passover.”

Seminole County Public Schools spokesperson Katherine Crnkovich said in a statement: “While every effort is made to be mindful of any religious or significant days when scheduling events, it is not always possible to avoid an event falling on one of these days.”

Eric Trabin, with the Jewish Community Relations Committee, believes the scheduling to be a continual oversight, saying calendars with important Jewish dates are sent out to school districts well ahead of time.

The most recent calendar they sent out had key dates to know about for the next ten years.

“The issue of school events and activities falling on important Jewish holidays is a constant issue that comes up each and every single year,” Trabin said. “It is an oversight that continues to happen year after year.”

Those frustrations are apparent within the Rivers family.

“As a parent of a child who belongs to a minority religious group, this should be a red flag for anyone that is not one of the mainstream religions,” Rivers said.