Friday, May 29, 2009
Waco High School students can say goodbye to quick trips to nearby fast food joints for lunch next year.
After lengthy discussion and one failed vote, Waco Independent School District trustees voted 4-3 Thursday night for Waco High to go to a closed campus, requiring students to stay at school for lunch.
The rationale for the closed lunch is to keep students from leaving school and skipping classes. Last year, 23 percent of ninth-graders lost class credit because of absences from class, Waco High Principal Clarence Simmons said.
Waco High seniors in good attendance, academic and behavioral standing, however, almost kept their privilege to leave campus for lunch. The first vote, introduced by trustee David Schleicher, would have exempted certain seniors from closed lunch. That vote failed by five no votes.
Trustee Pat Atkins maintained his opposition to the closed lunch. He said he didn’t see how the school has the capacity to serve and seat all 1,800 students in three 40-minute lunch periods.
There are plans for a senior dining area to be added to the Waco High cafeteria, and Simmons said the school plans to buy long tables, which will seat more students than the current round ones.
“If we felt capacity was an issue, we never would have brought this forth,” Simmons said.
One parent spoke against the closed lunch Thursday night, suggesting the administration find another solution to truancy problems rather than take a “punish one, punish all” approach. Other parents at an earlier campus informational meeting also said they thought that students who don’t break the rules were being punished based on the actions of those who do.
Royce Avery, Waco ISD director of secondary education, told the board Thursday night that the administration is sensitive to those arguments. Officials are considering rewarding students who meet certain criteria with weeklong open campus lunch privileges each six weeks.
Simmons said the school is also hoping to have outside vendors come on campus to provide variety for lunch. Trustee Larry Perez was against bringing in other choices for lunch, and trustee Alex Williams seemed to have trouble with the idea as well.
Simmons also spoke to board members about the fence that is being built around the Waco High campus. He said the aim of the fence is to limit the departure areas of students to three places.
“What have y’all been doing in the past as far as discipline and so forth?” board member Alex Williams asked Simmons. “What led to this?”
“Sir, we do the absolute best we can,” answered Simmons, who is finishing his first year as Waco High principal.
Simmons said the problems at Waco High have been long-standing.
“What happens if this fails?” Williams asked.
“Failure’s not an option,” Simmons countered.
Board member Debbie Luce brought the conversation back on topic, saying the fence is already going up. She said she believed it will be an asset to the school.
“I didn’t look at this as offensive,” she said.
wgragg@wacotrib.com
757-6901
Comments
By harleyj
Jun 2, 2009 7:58 PM | Link to this
08Waz Da Great, if the kids act like idiots just file "distrurbing the peace" or "assault" charges on them and let them have some time in the jailhouse or TYC. Public schools don't need to & should not put up with the people, especially kids, who act like they are in the wild. Put them in the zoo...behind bars....& treat them like the wild animals they want to act like...
By teacher
Jun 2, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this
that is a dumb ideal, why would they stop letting students leave for lunch, the ones who skip class are going to continue to skip, yall are not doing nothing but causing more problems
By Terrie Ritchie
Jun 2, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this
I praise and commend that decision. This will cut back on car accidents, influence, and mischief. There is no reason at all for them to leave campus. And look at the bright side children hopefully there will be better lunch choices. Make sure you all bring that into your arguments. :)
By It doesn't matter
Jun 2, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
I really don't know how to start my comment out with all of those who have posted a comment. First, I would like to say that those who have posted a comment need to proof read before they post. Sure we all need to focus on scores and many other things. For as the clothing goes, yes, some of the students have made it bad for others. It is sad to say that I as a parent have seen some of the students not wearing the proper clothing. Again, making smart comments will not get the job done but adding constructive comments may get the job done. It will not all come together if we don't put forth an effort. Let's all remember that this will not end in one day.
By Eureka
Jun 1, 2009 9:09 PM | Link to this
To Hardaway: Where did you get your education from? You can't even talk right. Before you comment on ANYTHING, please think first of what you want to write and then you can proceed to comment. And anyway, who's the lame football team when University lost just about evey game last year.
By Eureka
Jun 1, 2009 9:03 PM | Link to this
To Hardaway: Where did you get your education? You can't even talk right. Before you begin to comment on ANYTHING
By Hardaway
Jun 1, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this
yall dont need nut-10 around waco high just keep the teachers eyes on the students i.d. card so they can't leave school dumb *** people yall need to bw worry about waco highs lame *** football team on the real cause university gone smash on them next year drugs is not the kids fault it's the mexicans for bringing it here teachers at waco smoke weed in do drugs to such *** mr.williams coach weeks in many more **** boys stop playing with waco high in leave them alone
By sierra
Jun 1, 2009 1:02 PM | Link to this
thats is so messed up that is not going to change anything but make it worse we are in high school they need to worry about the big things like taks scores instead of are clothes and leaving campus!!!!!!!!
By Get over it!
Jun 1, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
I think a closed campus lunch and a fence is a great idea! First of all, many high schools have a closed campus lunch for many reasons. Some of those reasons being: less skipping, less car accidents, less students running off campus during lunch and coming back under the influence. The problem with that high school is not the principal, faculty, and staff, its the parents that are siding with the kids. If the parents worked with the system instead of against it, maybe the students attitudes would be better and they wouldnt have to put up a fence. If a certain percentage of students were not running off campus they wouldnt need to build a fence. Parents~be involved in your childs education and behavior management. Blame yourself and the children not the school system for trying to make Waco ISD a better and safer place.
By 08Waz Da Great
Jun 1, 2009 12:06 PM | Link to this
Just Tell WISD they going to need a new buliding for bad kids lol cause there is going 2 be alot of fights next year lol dum ppl
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