Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The School District 55 Board is waiting to see how things develop as high school students work on improving their public image in the community and exploring the idea of hiring a school resource police officer.
Adminstrators talked with the board about options to deal with issues related to open high school campus and lunch break during the board’s regular meeting on Monday.
Some merchants and members of the public have raised concerns about the litter and behavior of high school students during lunch break, and School District staff have been working on ideas to solve the problem.
One idea, presented to Supt. Larry Horton by Police Chief Bob Burford, is to hire a school resource officer, Horton said. The idea is only a concept at this point, but a deal between the city of Sweet Home and the district would split the cost of an officer, a little less than $80,000 per year. The officer would be assigned to the School District nine months of the year and the Police Department the remaining three months.
Horton and high school Principal Pat Stineff have also had numerous discussions about closing campus during lunch, Horton said.
“I do know that the students are kind of getting the message the public is tired of what is going on during lunch break,” Stineff said.
Staff looked a two-period lunch schedule, which would be required if campus were closed, Stineff said.
Two lunch periods would “minimize the impact on the community,” but would increase the cost of lunch $17,000 per year in supervision time and more time for cafeteria workers.
“They (students) are taking it seriously, and I think we can do a lot more to make them take it seriously,” Stineff said.
Board member Dave VanDerlip asaid he wants more input from local merchants.
Merchants, particularly restaurants that rely on a lunch rush, seem to be a little cautious about the idea of closing campus, Chairman Scott Proctor said.