The freedom to leave campus to grab burritos at Taco Bell, curly fries at Arby’s or Fruit ’n Yogurt Parfaits at McDonald’s could be taken away next year from high school students in Lawrence.
School board could close campuses during lunchtime
The school board is considering not allowing high school students to leave school during lunch time. Enlarge video
On the street
Should the Lawrence high schools close their campuses during lunch?
I think it’s a pretty good idea. … I think it would help the kids maintain their schedule and stay in the mood for school.
Lawrence school board members say they’re willing to close high school campuses for lunch, at least for freshmen and sophomores — and possibly for juniors and seniors.
Among their reasons: improved safety, nutrition and even personal finances.
“I think we’ll get it done,” said board President Rich Minder, who figures students should be saving money while enjoying cafeteria food. “We’ll be successful.”
The discussion comes as the district grapples with reconfiguration plans that will affect all district schools for 2011-12:
• Elementary schools will be limited to kindergarten through fifth grade.
• Junior high schools will include sixth-graders for the first time, while ninth-graders will be moved into high schools.
• The two high schools — both Lawrence and Free State — will have four grade levels, instead of the current three.
With Lawrence and Free State set to add freshmen for the first time, administrators will be looking for ways to make the transition as smooth as possible, said Ted Berard, associate principal at Free State since the school opened in 1997.
Committees are being formed to discuss changes that could be recommended regarding lockers, scheduling, food service and other matters, he said. Closing lunch already has been mentioned more than a few times, although he knows of no problems that have surfaced from having an open campus for lunch.
‘Personal choice’
“When Free State opened we inherited some of the things that Lawrence High did, and this was one of them,” Berard said, of permitting open lunch. “Nobody’s ever said, ‘We ought not to do this,’ so we continue to do it.
“It’s a personal choice. Some people stay. Some leave. Some stay one day and leave another day. And it’s worked.”
But board members say they’re ready for change.
All but one of the district’s seven board members say the time has come to close the campuses for lunch, at least for freshmen and sophomores. And the lone member who won’t commit, Vice President Mark Bradford, acknowledges that “it is probably a good time to have that discussion.”
They cite safety as the main issue — worries about students leaving campus, usually driving to fast-food restaurants for a quick bite during their 30-minute lunches — although no board member or principal can recall a single incident in which a student was injured off-campus during lunch break.
“Any time teenagers are driving, there’s a chance the student can get into an accident,” said Matt Brungardt, principal at Lawrence High School. “It’s like anything else: There could be an issue any time we do anything. But I can’t point to a particular incident.”
Counters Mary Loveland, in her 20th year as a member of the school board: “It’d be nice to make a decision before we had a tragedy.”
Loveland and other board members acknowledge that they could foresee allowing some students to retain the ability to venture off campus. Board member Marlene Merrill suggests granting open-lunch options to students with good grades or exemplary attendance records.
Potential ‘privilege’
“Maybe, by the time you’re a senior, it’s a privilege,” Merrill said.
Adds Bob Byers, another board member: “It’s a privilege you earn.”
Brungardt, at Lawrence High, figures that perhaps 10 percent of the school’s 1,200 or so students leave on any particular day for lunch — more when the weather’s nice, and fewer when it’s cold and icy.
The numbers likely aren’t much different at Free State, where students dine during one of three 30-minute sessions. Berard said the combination of adding ninth-graders next year, and possibly preventing students from leaving for lunch, could prompt some changes in operations.
Among the possibilities: having lunch periods “overlap” by five or 10 minutes each, so students arriving for lunch would be showing up just as others would be returning to class. That way, Berard said, the school might be able to squeeze four 30-minute lunch periods into the same time now used for three.
No matter how it shakes out, Berard is certain of one thing.
“The opportune time is to have a preparatory summer and start the school year with the new way of doing business,” Berard said. “What we need to do is implement it at beginning of school year so everybody’s had time to digest it.”
Comments
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KS (anonymous) says…
It's about time. Why should the taxpyer pay for a cafeteria when the kids won't use it? This discussion is long overdue.
cwolfe (anonymous) replies…
Come on guys really??? We need to treat our high school students like the intelligent young adults that they are...and stop acting like helicopter parents. We teach our students the importance of healthy lifestyle choices then we don't trust them to make the right decisions? Let's give them a chance to make the right decisions we encourage them to make.
KRichards (anonymous) says…
From the article it says only about 10% of the students leave on any day. So your point about the kids not using a cafeteria is moot.
Keith (anonymous) says…
As long as they're still able to walk across the street to smoke between classes, everything will be ok.
jobohe (anonymous) says…
"Among [the school board members'] reasons: improved safety, nutrition and even personal finances."
Why are the Board members' personal finances a factor? The Board should stop paying for the lunches students buy off campus with their money, and let the kids buy them themselves.
I remember the thrill of being truant for a brief moment when leaving campus for 20 minutes to grab a tasty lunch at Winaburger 75 years ago.
jcphawk (anonymous) says…
This seems to be such a non-issue. I wish the school board would deal with things that matter. If you think the school lunches are nutritious, you are mistaken. They just get bad versions of what is sold at the fast food restaurants. Hamburgers, pizza, etc are available in the cafeteria frequently. Move on to something more important.
tanaumaga (anonymous) says…
nutrition...? ha! only ten percent...? ha!
kustrong (anonymous) says…
Sending 9th graders to the high school is much bigger concern than closing lunch. They will not improve sports, there is going to be overcrowding, and they are vulnerable to the upperclassmen. This is a sad day for Lawrence.
KS, taxpayers don't pay for the cafeteria. You can make the case about free and reduced, but that is as far as you can go.
mom_of_three (anonymous) replies…
Freshmen will help some sports - thats already proven, and underclassmen are not going to be vulnerable to upperclassmen. (if that was the case, why has every single other 6A (and most 5A) school been a 4 year school for YEARS).
notajayhawk (anonymous) replies…
"there is going to be overcrowding"
Um, not really.
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/aug...
I suspect this is a funding issue, keeping enough bodies in the seats at the high schools to keep the funding coming.
cato_the_elder (anonymous) replies…
Notajayhawk, moving ninth graders to the high school buildings was the pet project of a small, vocal group of obsessed sports parents who for some strange reason want their ninth grade children to get beat up playing against seniors. The hidden scheme of certain school board members, however, which has conveniently been camouflaged behind a few zealous parents' collective sports obsession, is to create a perceived need for a third high school. Within two years after our ninth grade freshmen students have started attending the high school buildings, certain board members and school administrators will start talking about "overcrowding," particularly at LHS, paving the way for "community discussions" as to whether a third high school is needed - even though had they left the ninth graders where they were we wouldn't have needed a third high school for decades hence. This scheme has been on the drawing board for at least 20 years. You can take that to the bank.
rtwngr (anonymous) says…
This is a non issue. Now school staff and administrators will have to spend time dealing with policing the campus to catch violators and then meting out punishment. The ability to leave campus has been the norm since I attended LHS in the 70's. This is a stupid subject for the school board to be dealing with.
youngjayhawk (anonymous) says…
I agree with many of the above posts. Why create a problem when there is no problem? Students and school officials have effectively handled *open lunch* for decades. Seriously, there aren't other, more important, school-related issues to discuss? I can only shake my head ... and say I'm not surprised!
Irenaku (anonymous) says…
jcphawk: Exactly. Cafeteria food is terrible! I personally have packed my kids lunch for the past several years and he refuses to step foot in a fast food restaraunt.
merrill (anonymous) says…
How many more dollars will cutting off the freedom to move about cost the taxpayers for additional operations expenses?
What will be the menu?
Will the menu be any healthier than before? By which standards?
I thought a cafeteria concept was too expensive which is why it was shut down?
It does not appear as there is any real reason to cut off the open campus.
I say USD 497 taxpayers better ask to vote on this issue AND keep a close eye on USD 497
spending projects such as:
• Receive request from John McGrew, of Outside for a Better Inside, for a discussion about a wellness campus, complete with pond and walking trail. This project is more about spending millions upon millions more on additional athletic projects according to a project that was submitted to the city commission with Chamber of Commerce backing recently. On the new ground our USD 497 board recently purchased no less.
Number_1_Grandma (anonymous) says…
Boy, does this board have their priorities screwed up. Change things where no problems exist in 20 yrs? But don't stop kids from going off campus to smoke illegally? Be it that there are more important things to do than stop kids from smoking but to go after a few kids who eat off campus is ridiculous. If the board member must do something to feel like their actually doing something 'good', close down the smoking off campus!
PLEASE remember these board members when they come up for re-election. Vote against every one of them!
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
Let the parents weigh in on this one. Will elementary schools still be allowed to go home for lunch, not that many do but my kid loved that option.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
My kids loved the option of open lunch, but hardly ever did. School lunches have improved, by my kids complained about the lack of food by the time the last lunch period rollled around. I currently have one in high school who takes their lunch, because its healthier and knows it will be there come lunch time.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) says…
I really can't believe that this is the headline story. Another smoke-screen from the the school board. Hight school is the last stop before the real world. Why would we want to cut out the opportunity for our kids to learn how to go to lunch and get back on time. I would much rather my kids stub their toes while learning punctuality at the high school level. Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. Let's not take away our kids life lessons. P.S. Shame on you S.B., the cafeteria food is crud, and you know it. PPSS... Since when are you the guardians of peoples family budgets. Find something significant to work on, such as your substandard SPED program
LadyJ (anonymous) replies…
Good point about learning responsibility, future job skill.
merrill (anonymous) says…
The USD 497 board must be attempting to cloud the arena with nonsense to keep our eyes off the ball of their spending history that will and did raise taxes.
USD 497 budgets and spending are still the hot issues.
"Among their reasons: improved safety, nutrition and even personal finances."
Nutrition eh....
Get rid of the soda pop vending machines and plastic bottles( a little bit for the environment too.)
"personal finances" = spending hundreds - a thousand a year on bottled water and soda pop seems like promoting reckless spending and environmental damage.
Stainless steel bottles will save thousands of dollars easily. Sell these in the school book store with school logos at reasonable pricing.
mom_of_three (anonymous) replies…
I think they only have diet soda if they have any at all. it was replaced a few years back. And metal bottles - although those are good for the environment, my kids hate the taste of metal and use the plastic ones instead. They could sell the reusable plastic ones and make a fortune.
beerguy (anonymous) replies…
Diet soda is not better for you, its worse. Your replacing diabetes and obesity with cancer and other health problems.
femmefatale (anonymous) replies…
Soda and diet soda are full of ingredients that are bodies are not meant to digest.
beerguy (anonymous) replies…
When I was in school all that soda money went to pay for my trip to Salt Lake City to compete in a business conference. The school didn't pay a dime, nor did they have any authority over the pop machines.
MacHeath (anonymous) says…
Listen..if I was in high school now, I would go out for "lunch" . Which would probably mean driving around for an hour, doing whatever we could think of for fun. None of which, would have anything to do with nutrition.
Jolly (anonymous) says…
Rich Minder - what business is it of yours or any other school administrator or teacher how much money a student "saves". Are you now the grand oversight master of family savings accounts? What business is it of any of you if my kid goes out one or two times a week to enjoy something other that cafeteria food? Oh - I am sure none of you ever do that in your jobs.
Get off your mountainous high horse and show me some real statistics as to what would be the advantage of closing the lunch hour. It better be something based on more than just 10% of the students. Those numbers just don't mean much.
Other than liberal "do- gooders" who want to tell everyone how to live every detail of everyone else' lives - what is the real reason this option is being presented?
hear_me (anonymous) replies…
Saving money sure was a weird reason.
I think the lunch hour should be longer, or they should close the campus. Eating any kind of food on-the-run is not healthy. Thirty minutes is not long enough to get a lunch and eat it. That would be a bad habit developed over four formative years.
toe (anonymous) says…
Local restaurants and fast food joints do not need this business. There will also be less traffic. This should help slow development next to Free State High.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) replies…
Great. Let's use the daily life of our children to control traffic and development in the city.
kansasredlegs (anonymous) says…
I was in favor of shutting down campus for lunch until I read the idiotic reasons espoused by "OUR" school board members.
No incidents in 20+ years = Need to change? The wheel is not broken, so let's break it.
Nutrition = School lunch food is some of the worst nutritional-valued food on the planet.
FInances = If you don't have it, then you can't spend it.
It's a privilege you earn = Just like at the jail. Must have been a former correctional officer.
There are more important issues than this nonissue. Get back to leading or get the heck out of the way!
unklemonkey (anonymous) says…
Nutrition? The school board wants to close open lunch because school lunches are more nutritious?
hahahahahahahahahahaha.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) says…
Have to give credit to the school system for teaching my kids about healthy food choices in class. All of my kids are conscious of their choices when they go out to eat. They are also aware that what is being fed to them at school is fattening.
femmefatale (anonymous) replies…
In the fifth grade my son(now an eleventh grader) wrote a paper titled "School food needs Jesus!*
merrill (anonymous) says…
Again get rid of those vending machines with snacks and tons of fattening sweetners and other words that could be hard on the digestive system.
Health concerns = mandating exercise classes just before and after lunch = waking up the students at mid day.
Health and saving money
1. Get rid of vending machines
2. Late morning and early afternoon exercise
3. New School Hours = 9AM till students are done = more sleep = good health = saving money on doctor bills.
Buy food from local farmers = fresh = healthier = good lesson for students = keeps more dollars in the local community.
dani36921 (anonymous) says…
I was just a senior at Lawrence High last year. I went out to lunch about twice a week and I absolutely loved it, especially on days where my class had "last lunch". It gets so congested in the cafeteria and if you are only a couple minutes late, there will be no seats or even certain foods left. I distinctly remember students sitting on the window sills a few times last year just so they could sit somewhere. There are plenty of places nearby where we were able to get food we actually enjoyed plus food that was probably healthier than the school's. Jimmy Johns and Panera were our main stops =). I am 100% against this transition with the current cafeteria system. We students have not done anything wrong to deserve this punishment. What kind of lesson is the school board teaching us? "Let's take away a freedom from the students because nothing has happened to cause us to......" Lawrence High has the smallest cafeteria for the school's student capacity. If students were fighting for seats with just three grade levels, imagine four plus the 10% who went out for lunch. Talk about a horrible experience. Maybe if they made the lunch experience more enjoyable or at least less stressful, they could take away open lunch, but until those things happen... they can't/shouldn't.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) replies…
Good points Dani. It's hard to understand why the school board would consciously do something that would add to the overcrowding at lunch. Maybe they want to gain support for another high school by jamming the kids together at lunch.
femmefatale (anonymous) replies…
Well said Dan!
debengstrom (Deb Engstrom) replies…
The cafeteria at LHS is not able to accommodate all of the students in a reasonable amount of time. I fear that our first lunch period will start at about 10:30 and our last one will be around 1:00. That will be a logistical nightmare -- not to mention very hungry kids at either end of the lunch schedule.
heath (anonymous) says…
This is something that should have happened long ago. Yes, there are other problems related to lunch and nutrition that exist, but this is a step in the right direction. Ms. Loveland got to the heart of the issue--make the change before something tragic happens, not as a response to it.
Bassetlover (anonymous) says…
Pick your battles wisely, school board members. Don't think you really need to fight this one.
mom_of_three (anonymous) says…
I would be much more concerned about the students who smoke before school and during lunch and who are not old enough to do so. Imagine what they are doing to their health!
merrill (anonymous) says…
Much can happen to students going to and from school. Lets mandate home schooling = big dollar savings = healthy lunches and safer environment.
If smoking is such a problem what are the parents doing? Yes we know it is not necessarily healthy.
The school board has not exactly proved to be great stewards of our tax dollars.
KS (anonymous) says…
kustrong - Where did the school district get the money to build the cafeteria, if not from the taxpayer? Maybe government money is used to run it, but not to build it. What are they teaching at KU. Apparently nothing!
whats_going_on (anonymous) says…
The point they *tried* to make about kids having a high risk for getting into wrecks really, really annoyed me. Especially after not one of them could think of an instance where it was a problem.
Seems like they are fishing for something to do/complain about. It hasn't been a problem, that I'm aware of. When I went to LHS, I went out to eat maybe once a week? Half the time it wasn't worth it because I was in such a huge rush to get there and back in time for class. Lame lame lame.
Most of the time the school food was McNasty though...I would just end up getting snacks from the snack bar thing (not sure if they still have it?). So...either way it wasn't too healthy. :\
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
Come on merril, although I totally support home schooling, surely even you have enough brains to know it would not work in some families. Face it, some kids are better off in school than at home. Safer environment, not for some. I saw families that homeschooled their kids but actually did nothing, their kids were way behind. Yes, I saw many more that did a great job and the kids were ahead, but sadly that is not always the case. Some parents can't even be bothered to see if they are doing their homework. You always seem to think that there is one answer for all problems and all people.
KS (anonymous) says…
kustrong - Actually, all of the money to run the schools and cafeterias are from the taxpayer; either local, state or federal.. Where do you think they get the money? Off the tree in your backyard?
Prairielander (anonymous) says…
Leaving campus for lunch should be a perk for the upper classmen. Juniors and Seniors only.
They are no more or less likely to have an accident at lunch then they are driving to or from school.
I have had two kids go though LFS recently. They used the cafeteria about 70%-80% of the time. They did complain about there being "nothing left to eat" by the last lunch group.
merrill (anonymous) says…
"Come on merril, although I totally support home schooling, surely even you have enough brains to know it would not work in some families."
Well I was not serious merely making a point that things can happen to and from school as easily as over the lunch hour.
No I do not believe homeschool is for everyone.
Actually most of the time I believe public education is a best bang for the tax dollar.
The USD 497 board must be attempting to cloud the arena with nonsense to keep our eyes off the ball of their spending history that will and did raise taxes.
sunshine_noise (anonymous) says…
So I thought we were on a campaign for healthy eating to curb obsesity in teens? First thing is to prevent teens from eating fast-food. Next is to create healthier lunches at schools. When I was in high schools we ate at school and were not allowed to leave. Our lunches were cooked on site and included healthy foods i.e. actual mashed potatos (instead of instant), peas, corn, green beans, etc. Now the school truck in processed, over cooked, foods that I wouldn't feed my dog. Its time for a change.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) replies…
Sunshine, If you have lived through the teen years with a child, you would realize that to "prevent teens from eating fast food" is impossible. Maybe you could wave your magic wand and make school lunches delicous and nutricious.
sunshine_noise (anonymous) replies…
Grant it school lunches do need to be more tasteful and nutricious, but I find it difficult to believe you cannot deter teens from fast food. I have a 10 year old and he may get fast food once a month if any. Its all in educating our children that fast food is BAD for us. If the adults don't eat it the kids won't most likely eat it either. Then maybe they will just go away if they aren't getting any business.
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
Actually I think this is a smoke screen to distract us from the boundary issue. Then when they change them they think we will just go, "well at least the didn't take away the off campus lunches". They did the same thing with the tax increase, we were all suppose to be thankful it wasn't as much as they originally thought. Which reminds me, I was helping an elderly person fill out some forms for assistance with medical bills and they asked about every expense possible 'except' property taxes which accounted for $170 a month of his social security check at this point. No telling what it will be when the tax bill comes out in Dec.
volunteer (anonymous) says…
It is disappointing to hear so many comments about how non-nutritious the school lunches are. Don't we pay salaries to folks in the central office and dieticians somewhere in the school system to make sure the food IS nutritious?
Where do the central office Administrators eat lunch? Should we require them to eat at a school cafeteria so they can understand what is going on?
mfagan (Mark Fagan) replies…
Actually, a number of them -- not sure how many -- eat school lunch, but over at the central office. I toured the HQ a few weeks ago and saw the kitchen, which serves up the same food found in schools (secondary schools, as I recall). I was there well after lunch, so I didn't see anyone actually eating, but I'm told diners pay the same prices there as adults would if they were eating a school lunch in an actual school.
Also, I seem to recall that school board members and administrators venture out into schools on a fairly regular schedule, to eat and meet with staff folks. Not sure that everyone does it, but there is a program set up to do just that.
- Mark Fagan
Schools reporter
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
Keep them at school. Let some work in the cafeteria for their meals. Dishwashing, food handlers.
Get some menus back in school that have more than pizza and the other crap being served. It's time to bring back orange jellow with shredded carrots. Bring back some homemade vegetable soup. Bring back some hot beef sandwhices with gravy.
And yes, staff and administration people should be required to stay on the campus to eat. They either brown bag it or eat at the cafeterial WITH the students.
Maybe it's time for the school to have some etiquette taught about eating. I am appalled to go out and see young people sitting around with their hats on , girls with flip flops and the men as well.
Have a dress up day at the high schools. Have one day a month with tablecloths. Isn't sewing taught anymore? if so, the classes can make the tablecloths and napkins.
Lawrence is supposed to be so progressive but is regressive in dining etiquette.
Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
I don't know about lunch, but from that photo, there must not be any dress code. If that is what our students look like nowadays, I'd vote for uniforms.
dani36921 (anonymous) replies…
Wow.. umm, t-shirts? Are you really protesting them wearing t-shirts and shorts? Just be lucking they don't have guys with pants around their knees or girls with tops that hardly cover their body. They are dressing fine. You must not get out much.
dani36921 (anonymous) replies…
lucky*
dani36921 (anonymous) says…
When I ate there last year, the cafeterias do have "healthy foods". The problem is the quality of the food. The quality of the healthier foods is so poor that students choose to eat the less healthier food because it simply tastes better. I am a huge fan of vegetables and the school always had some sort of variety for us to choose from everyday, but there were only certain kinds that I would choose to stomach. Some of the cooked vegetables would simply have no taste or the texture would just be wrong. It isn't necessarily the menu as much as it is the quality.
beatrice (anonymous) says…
The board should have to eat in the cafeterias every day.
HappyMedium (anonymous) says…
Several times a week I drop off my 6-year-old at Cordley Elem. & take my 2-year-old to Veterans park, right next to Lawrence High. I have now made it a regular habit to take a bag with me and I pick up trash each time we are there. The amount of fast food restaurant trash in the park is terrible, along with plastic water & soda bottles, glass soda bottles, etc. Most of the trash is usually near the benches and equipment. I've seen the students eating/hanging out & leaving their trash behind when we've played there at various times during day. Yes, I understand they can leave their trash anytime, not just at lunch......but perhaps not bringing fast food trash back near the school at lunchtime might prevent some of this mess. It's really annoying to stop at a nice park & see it littered so badly. I do not notice his level of litter at any of the other parks we frequent ( not even close).
LadyJ (anonymous) says…
I was discussing this article with an elderly man today. He said back in the early 60's (before LHS had an open lunch I believe) he worked for Earl's Pizza Palace, remember them? He said every school day at lunch he would deliver a few pizzas to the back entrance of the school (which is now the front entrance). Some students would come out in the parking lot and pay for them. I asked him if the school placed the order or the kids, but he didn't know. Just goes to show, they will get the fast food regardless of whether they are allowed to leave or not. :)
ralphralph (anonymous) says…
Safety? Fill the lunch room with pillows and make the students wear helmets.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Etiquette and dress codes begin at home where it meets parents approval. This is not public school turf.
9070811 (anonymous) replies…
Ahh, I wish LJWorld had a "like" button feature like HuffPo or Facebook!
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
srj (anonymous) says…
I can understand the safety part, but the "nutrition and even personal finances" part in bull. Anyway, keeping the students on campus is just another way to make money, instead of the cash going to fast food joints.
Cogito_Ergo_Es (anonymous) says…
This is just more of the School Board's "smoke and mirrors" magic show. They try to distract us with non-issues so we don't notice the bigger ones going on under our noses. It's like so many of their decisions, first they'll do something we dislike a little, then they'll do something we like even less, then give us the minor thing back, and say, don't say we never gave you anything! You can bet this pointless issue is not the subject of their real motivation, they are using it to position themselves for something else. It's the same M.O. of Doll and the rest of his administrators. We'd better check our foreheads. We must have 'stupid' written all over us. It's an election year, yet here we go. I guess those up for reelection this spring are tired of holding this position!
oneeye_wilbur (anonymous) says…
oh, just give them the diploma when they start and get it over with.
sickofdummies (anonymous) says…
Off the subject~ did anyone notice this statement? "Elementary schools will be limited to first through fifth grades." Are elementary schools not going to have kindergarten anymore? Just curious is this is accurate?
mfagan (Mark Fagan) replies…
Good catch, sickofdummies. Kindergartners still will be attending elementary schools in Lawrence next year. Many still won't be eating lunch there, though.
- Mark Fagan
Schools reporter
mfagan (Mark Fagan) replies…
Even better: It's kindergarteners, not kindergartners.
It's also Monday.
- Mark Fagan
Schools reporter
merrill (anonymous) says…
Some politicians and bankers held a discussion in Lawrence about educating on money management. They stressed the lessons begin at an early age in second and/or third grade I believe.
Then these students can sit back and watch our politicians such as the USD 497 and others mismanage our tax dollars. Vending machines are not a good example of money management or environmentally sensitive.
Money management should begin at home not public school. Wall Street is for those who can afford to lose money.
igby (anonymous) says…
I was in junior high in the sixth grade in 1973! Changing classes and my own locker.
impska (Sarah Stratton) says…
My high school was officially closed at lunch, but it didn't stop students from leaving. People went home for lunch, they went out for lunch, they ran errands during lunch. The school staff didn't want to or weren't able to police the students (it's also -their- lunch break), and even when students were caught, parents were rarely interested in having their kids punished for something as trivial as lunch break. If it did come up, then parents said they gave their kids permission, and the school wasn't going to fight with them about it. No one really cares about this. It seems like the school board got bored this week and decided they had to come up with something to do.
Cappy (anonymous) says…
My only problem with out-lunching, I live near LHS and the kids who pick up food drop their trash instead of putting it in the trash cans.
honestone (anonymous) says…
9th and 10th grade to the LHS building for a closed lunch.
11th and 12th to Free State building with an open lunch.
You solve the lunch/responability issue and the equity issue too
workinghard (anonymous) replies…
Good idea.
Clevercowgirl (anonymous) says…
Good idea if the facility decisions were based on lunch. However, this would not jive with the athletics, and the new mega stadiums that we built.
hearmeout (anonymous) says…
first of all when i heard this i wanted to cry. i am going to high school next year along with the kids that are a year younger than me. It is not fair that the year we go there we get less freedom!! ITS high school. It really is time that we do things on our own and get treated like adults. We've had to eat school cafeteria food for almost 10 years and honestly i have been looking forward to having a little independence in our freaking 16 years of life to eat where we want to. i am protesting! who's with me!! i atleast know of 400 kids.
Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…
Good idea which can reduce the board's overall liability. The schools can't 'wash their hands' of the matter just because lunch periods are open.
mirandarose (anonymous) says…
This is a joke. I am going to be a senior next year and this drives me nuts. The School Board is already bringing freshmen up and overcrowding the high schools for our last year. Have there ever been any major acccidents during open lunch that wouldn't have normally happened in a high school parking lot? Rarely can freshmen drive, so they wouldn't be able to leave for lunch anyways. It doesn't make sense for seniors (and any returning student for that matter) to be losing a privlige when they did nothing wrong. The School Board might have a different opinion if they ate school lunch everyday.
Crackers_11 (anonymous) says…
This is absolutely ridiculous. The School Board's trying to tell us that by not going out we're getting more nutritious food? Ha. Not everyone going out to lunch is going to McDonald's for a Big Mac. There are places like Juice Stop and even near by grocery store where you can get something 10 times as healthy than anything else you're going to find in the school cafeteria. Many students also go home. And even if the food they're getting isn't healthy, that's our choice to make. Very few freshmen drive, much less have a car. If they do decide to drive illegally to go out to lunch, that's their parents circle, not the school's. They also cite safety as a main concern, but can't even think of a time where it's been a problem. I think that shows the real reason, they want more money. The School Board is there to make decisions that benefit the students. This isn't one of them.