New school policy in Grandview keeping kids in school
GRANDVIEW -- After lunch, returning to class became a lower priority to many students in Grandview. That's why the high school decided that this year it would enforce a new policy that keeps students on campus the entire day. While students aren't thrilled with the change, parents, teachers and principals have seen an instant transformation.
Lunch time. It's a school day favorite, but last year, the lunch room wasn't full of students.
"We had the chance to go eat something different," says one student. "Not the same thing every week, so we kind of liked that."
But like it or not, the school is now a closed campus. Principal Brian Anderson says it's paying off.
"We only have them for six hours a day, and if they're late coming back, people have to re-teach," says Anderson.
Now that Grandview students aren't allowed to jump in the car and take off for lunch, their ditch rates have dropped nearly 90%.
They're not the only ones. West Valley schools made the change last year, and saw the same success.
Anderson tells KIMA teachers and students are building better relationships and enjoy a safer learning environment.
"They're unsupervised somewhere else and teenagers are likely to get into some type of trouble," says Anderson.
Not to mention less kids leaving, means more kids buying school lunch.
"We'll always give them extra if we have extra food, and we've started the new salad bar which a real plus this year," says cafeteria worker, Virginia Binfet.
Students say they like the yummy additions, but do miss the extra freedom. And, most admit leaving for lunch was a temptation to ditch.
"if you leave to your house, you may be too lazy to come back, and if you leave to a friends, it's like peer pressure," says one student. "You don't want to come back cause they're not."
But with the absence of that peer pressure, brings fewer absent students after this school day favorite--lunch.
Despite opposition from some students, the principal tells us the new policy will remain in place. He expects to see the rate of ditched classes continue to fall and eventually set an example in the lower valley for perfect attendance.
Lunch time. It's a school day favorite, but last year, the lunch room wasn't full of students.
"We had the chance to go eat something different," says one student. "Not the same thing every week, so we kind of liked that."
But like it or not, the school is now a closed campus. Principal Brian Anderson says it's paying off.
"We only have them for six hours a day, and if they're late coming back, people have to re-teach," says Anderson.
Now that Grandview students aren't allowed to jump in the car and take off for lunch, their ditch rates have dropped nearly 90%.
They're not the only ones. West Valley schools made the change last year, and saw the same success.
Anderson tells KIMA teachers and students are building better relationships and enjoy a safer learning environment.
"They're unsupervised somewhere else and teenagers are likely to get into some type of trouble," says Anderson.
Not to mention less kids leaving, means more kids buying school lunch.
"We'll always give them extra if we have extra food, and we've started the new salad bar which a real plus this year," says cafeteria worker, Virginia Binfet.
Students say they like the yummy additions, but do miss the extra freedom. And, most admit leaving for lunch was a temptation to ditch.
"if you leave to your house, you may be too lazy to come back, and if you leave to a friends, it's like peer pressure," says one student. "You don't want to come back cause they're not."
But with the absence of that peer pressure, brings fewer absent students after this school day favorite--lunch.
Despite opposition from some students, the principal tells us the new policy will remain in place. He expects to see the rate of ditched classes continue to fall and eventually set an example in the lower valley for perfect attendance.
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