Closed campus lunch creates challenges for administrators and students alike

HC’s campus has a wide access to popular fast food spots such as Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Fazoli’s. As a result, many students skip class to leave campus and grab their lunch. However, consequences are issued for those who break the rules. HC administrator Chad Carpenter has been working with other administrators to discipline these offenses.

“Chick-fil-a has been a very good thing and a very bad thing for HC,” Carpenter said. “I am glad that we have the ability to have a good restaurant down the street, but we have those students that leave campus during the school hours.”

Cafeteria food isn’t always appealing to all students, and some believe that the walk to McDonald’s or Chick-fil-a is worth it with the possibility of being late to class or caught off campus.

“[Students leave] because they’re hungry,” HC student LaDonya Bennet said, “or they go get some food; they don’t want to eat the school food because it’s nasty.”

Leaving campus results in disciplinary actions taken by administrators. The consequences include SAFE and discipline conferences, as well as parent/guardian involvement.

“Currently, [the top discipline offense] is skipping  class or off-campus infractions,” Carpenter said. “The first offense can be anywhere from a conference to a short-term placement in SAFE. The second offense is an automatic placement in SAFE, and then the third offense scaffolds a little bit higher.”

Administrators continue to work to try and prevent skipping, but it is still a prominent issue.

“Communication is the only way to prevent it,” Carpenter said. “The consequences are there, so students are aware it is not allowed.”

Administration have also continued to remind students about the restrictions on getting food delivered along with leaving campus during the school day, whether it be over the announcements or individually.

“I think the administration is doing a good job of setting the clear expectations,”  HC teacher Brandon Slone said. “Administration has really stated that you can’t leave campus, and if you do leave campus you are going to receive consequences. Administration is doing a really good job of following through with that.”

Slone encourages all fourth hour teachers to be on the lookout for students skipping and follow through with notifying administrators.

“I think teachers can be a little more diligent in reporting kids that leave campus to administrators,” Slone said. “Teachers need to help administration out a little more and monitor it, and let kids know that they can’t leave campus.”

Many teachers have seen the problem increase during fourth hour (lunch). This has been a problem with upperclassmen.

“I’ve had juniors in the past during fourth hour,” HC teacher Brandon Slone. “Their ability to leave campus is a little more increased. You’ll see that age group leaving campus more to go get food.”

Bennet, however, disagrees with HC’s closed campus policy. He believes that there should be better food options for students.

“I do think HC should have an open campus, because we should be able to go get food like the teachers get food,” Bennet said. “We should all be equal.”