The answer to questions about whether to allow high school students to leave campus during the lunch hour is almost too easy: Keeping students in school would improve safety while perhaps lessening truancy and encouraging more healthy eating habits.

If cafeteria spaces are insufficient to accommodate all of the students, adjustments can be made such as staggering lunch periods to spread out the crowd. For students who say they detest cafeteria offerings, let them bring their own food and eat with the others in the school. Students still can socialize, just on the school grounds.

There are legitimate concerns about safety and security of so many students jumping into cars and dashing to and from school in such a short time. A closed lunch hour also may affect truancy because, once they are away from school for lunch, a certain number of students simply decide not to come back. Keeping students on campus also might lessen disruptions that occur because of the departures and returns. How many classes are knocked off schedule by early departees and late arrivals?

The lunch plan has been in effect here for some time and the leniency that existed at Lawrence High was simply extended to Free State. Some think an extra 15 minutes added to the half-hour slate would alleviate problems, but that would entail extending the class day, and chances are it wouldn’t ease the current difficulties.

It’s fine for students to have input into the lunch policy, but their objections shouldn’t be allowed to veto a change if parents, teachers and administrators are in favor. At least one school board member suggested the open lunch hour plan gives youngsters a chance to learn responsibility and how to their manage time. Through school demands, jobs and other activities, students have plenty of opportunities to make good and bad decisions. Parents and authority figures willing to set limits on their behavior can be part of that learning experience. If the district is seeking a compromise, it might consider an open lunch hour as a privilege for high school seniors.

There are solid reasons for keeping students on campus during the lunch hour. School administrators shouldn’t hesitate to take that action if they decide it will enhance the safety and perhaps the educational experience of Lawrence students.