JANESVILLE — Craig High School ninth-graders would be restricted to school grounds next fall if a policy now in development is approved.
Both freshmen and sophomores would have "closed lunch" in the fall of 2010. Only juniors and seniors would be allowed to leave campus for lunch.
Parker High School could follow the same phased-in schedule for 2009 and 2010, or it might delay a year—it's too early to say, said Parker Principal Steve Schroeder.
The topic was raised as a Craig American History class quizzed the school board before Tuesday night's board meeting.
Craig Principal Mike Kuehne told the students that a proposal is being drawn up.
The policy also likely would keep certain juniors and seniors on campus if they were not maintaining satisfactory attendance, behavior or schoolwork, said Craig assistant principal Mark Coombs, who is drafting the proposal.
"It's really not a punishment. It's just that they have not earned the privilege to be on their own," Kuehne said.
Officials indicated no immediate plans to extend closed campus for all students. If they did, space would be an issue.
The new Craig cafeteria holds about 600, and there's more seating in an adjacent room, Kuehne said. The high schools each have an enrollment of around 1,700.
A student asked how the school would enforce the closed campus. Kuehne said it's possible students would be required to wear nametags that were color-coded to identify them as students with off-campus privileges or who were restricted.
Nametags on lanyards are required at Beloit Memorial High School, Kuehne noted.
Students skip school now, and that likely would continue, Kuehne acknowledged.
School board member Tim Cullen suggested the district might want to address a related question: With the time allotted for lunch, students are endangering safety by speeding through city streets in order to get their food and return to school on time.
Board saves seats for unions, parents
The Janesville School Board voted 5-4 Tuesday to set aside special seats at its meetings for representatives of district employee unions and parent groups.
The representatives would be able to answer questions if asked by board members, but they would not be allowed to enter into discussions unless invited, said board member Kevin Murray, who proposed the idea.
Voting against were Tim Cullen, Debra Kolste, Lori Stottler and DuWayne Severson.
Kolste said anyone who attends a meeting has an equal interest in school matters.
Board member Bill Sodemann noted that the board already has the option to ask questions of anyone in the audience. Sodemann ultimately voted for the proposal.
Cullen wondered whether other groups, such as Forward Janesville, also would request special seats.
And if there's a standing-room-only crowd, how would attendees feel when they had to stand in the back while others got preferential treatment, Cullen asked.
Board member Peter Severson liked the idea, saying it would encourage an atmosphere in which the different groups feel they are part of the same team.