
DHS math teacher Caleb Kartchner and physical fitness teacher Monica Parra have taken the lead on exploring options to close the campus, citing reasons including safety, nutrition, attendance and school atmosphere.
Kartchner said students are eating meals off-campus that are not as healthy, and student tardiness at all grade levels spikes after the lunch period. But, he added, the key thing is safety.
Under current policy, all students have lunch from 11:43 a.m.-12:29 p.m.
Because the campus is open, students often rush to cars to leave campus and get lunch or run errands.
Kartchner, Parra and others reportedly feel that the rush, combined with the school’s multiple entrances and exits, makes for an accident waiting to happen.
Survey data collected in 2012 shows one-quarter of students say they do not leave campus, while 75% report leaving at least one day a week.
The data also revealed 98% of students and 60% of parents support an open campus.