Freshman safety, security discussed

School Board considering keeping ninth-graders on campus during lunch

By Julianna Parker Jones

Norman freshmen beginning next year could be required to stay on campus for lunches.

The Norman Public Schools Board of Education discussed the possibility of closing campuses for freshmen at their regular board meeting Monday evening.

The change is recommended by the district's administration because of safety and security concerns. Norman Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said this would be a proactive change, not prompted by a reaction to any particular incident.

"We shouldn't need an incident to address these kinds of issues; we want to be proactive," he said.

He said the district periodically reviews its open campus policy that lets all students in grades 9-12 leave campus during the lunch hour.

A few years ago, based on the recommendation of the Citizen's Advisory Council, the district created a system so parents could opt their children out of the open campus policy, he said. The option is not utilized very often, he said.

The CAC approached the district in February about closing the campus to freshmen, and after deliberation the district deemed it advisable, Siano said.

Most parents are in agreement with the possible move, board member Brooks Hull said.

"Overwhelmingly, the parent response has been positive toward this kind of move," he said.

Neither school board members nor school administration members called for the removal of open lunches for those in 10th-12th grades. Those students are more mature and are generally given more responsibilities in their life outside of school as well, Siano said.

Freshmen, however, are experiencing a difficult transition into high school, he said. Closing lunches would prevent added stress of getting off campus and eating and coming back quickly, he said.

Freshmen cannot drive themselves, so they either walk or ride in cars with older students off campus. At Norman High School, students can walk to a variety of eateries and the foot traffic is apparent to anyone walking by campus at lunchtime, said Nick Migliorino, director of secondary education.

"I think we've really been blessed, really lucky that we haven't had an accident," he said.

At Norman North High School, the options within walking distance are slim to none.

The transition to closed lunches would be relatively easy, said Jerry Winkle, NNHS principal. This year, freshmen have a separate lunch from older students, he said, and there have been no administrative problems with most students staying on campus. The school site can accommodate all freshmen staying on campus, he said.

"Dr. Siano is right," Winkle said. "Supervision, safety and security is an issue. ... I am certainly 100 percent for this. We have more disciplinary referrals, more truancy after lunch."

District administrators said Norman High also could accommodate all freshmen staying on campus. Migliorino said a few changes would have to be made at both campuses. Extra tables and chairs would need to be purchased and more staff would be required to serve meals, he said.

Norman High also would switch to different lunch hours for freshmen and the rest of the school.

Siano said the school sites could not accommodate a closed lunch for all four grades.

He said the district would answer more questions from the board at the May school board meeting and possibly vote on the change at that time. That would give the district plenty of time to make the changes for the 2009-2010 school year, Siano said.

The board will next meet 7 p.m. May 18.

Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com