Arrowhead Remains a Closed-Campus Campus, Despite Complaints

On October 20, AHS associate principal Debra Paradowski sent out an email to the entire school body reminding them that Arrowhead has a closed lunch policy.

In the email, Paradowski said, “This is just a reminder that Arrowhead is a closed campus for lunch. Students are not allowed to receive food deliveries unless prior approval from the administration is granted. This is done for the safety of the students.”

According to AHS associate principal Becky Gordon, Arrowhead has had a closed policy for 23 years.

“Some of the issues with an open lunch policy are the following: Not much close by to get to and back before becoming tardy; our student population is much larger than most area high schools; not knowing how many kids will stay or leave from day to day; how do the lunch personnel know how much food to prepare, purchase? If everyone isn’t allowed to leave, what is the criteria and who tracks the criteria? With current trends, there is a concern for what students might be doing when they leave and what they may be bringing back into school,” says Gordon.

“I do not think Arrowhead should maintain the closed lunch policy,” says AHS senior Keenan Cuculi.

“If there was an option to be able to leave school for lunch, I would have something to look forward to everyday,” Cuculi says. “The food they serve here [in the cafeteria] isn’t exactly the best.”

If Arrowhead does decide to implement an open campus lunch plan, such as the open campus lunch policy at Oconomowoc high school, new problems could arise.

Cuculi says, “There would probably be a problem with kids saying they were going to get lunch, but ending up going somewhere else to smoke or something. There could also be a problem with people getting back late from lunch and Arrowhead having to give a bunch of kids tardies.”

Gordon says, “Not allowing student to leave can help prevent potential car accidents, attendance, not returning, tardiness coming back late, speeding tickets.”

“I think if there were strict rules enforced, like after three tardies you didn’t have the open lunch privilege anymore, it could turn out alright,” says Cuculi. “Plus there are so many food places right by the school, like Sendiks, Sweet Dreams, and Culvers, so many students wouldn’t have to drive far to get a lunch.”

Gordon says, “As for the possibility of having this in the future, I don’t know for certain, but the issues that could result would have to be considered.  If we did it at all it would make most sense to have seniors only and seniors would have to meet certain criteria to be eligible.  We’d have to ask ourselves what is the purpose of this? Why is it helpful for kids to have this available to them?”

“I would enjoy coming to school a lot more if I knew I’d be able to go out to get food with my friends for lunch,” says Cuculi. “Going out to eat with my friends is what I look forward to after school. If I could do it during school, it would help me relax at school and it could probably make Arrowhead a more stress free place.”