Q & A four Dr. Janet Schwamb shares about the changes at Huron this school year. Harley Hagen| EDITOR-IN-CHIEF five Feature Q: Many people have said that the locked doors are due to the intrusion last year, is this correct? Why are there suspicions of this happening again? A: “While the intruder last year did cause us to examine and look at our building safety plan, the district had already installed the security door system in schools around the district. Huron administrators made a decision during the summer to lock the doors in September to further enhance our building security.” the other comprehensive high school lunch models. These indicators were weighed against potential lunch models. Based upon the result of this decision process, Huron’s lunch option included two lunch periods Monday through Friday and a closed campus during each lunch period, with the exception of an open campus on Fridays for seniors. This model is more aligned with the other comprehensive high schools in AAPS and prioritized student safety and academic achievement.” Q: Although people can be buzzed in at the main office, what are the Q: With the doors being locked, the traffic of students has been heavy. Has there consequences for sneaking off of campus? been any ideas on how to fix the rush of students in the hallways? A: “Leaving campus any day other than Friday for seniors and for all other A: “Initially, student traffic in the hallways, particularly at the beginning and student in grades 9, 10, and 11 who do not have this privilege will be handled by at the end of lunch was heavier. We have added opening the cafeteria doors our Class Principals on an individual basis. As I mentioned earlier, the ability to to the cafeteria proper during lunches, as well as the door under the arch near leave campus on Friday for seniors is a privilege and if it is not used responsibly the Media Center being held open by a community assistant at the end of each by a senior, the privilege can be revoked.” lunch hour. This has helped reduce the crowds leaving the cafeteria area and has been assisting students who eat outside during lunch.” Q: Could the passing time ever be increased again to help the flow of students? Q: What are the rules like at the other Ann Arbor high schools for lunch and doors being locked? A: “While the other comprehensive high schools have not moved to locked doors yet , they both have stricter lunch rules. Skyline High School is a closed campus for all students every day. Pioneer High School is an open campus for seniors only, every other Friday. Huron High School still enjoys more open campus privileges for seniors, which is every Friday.” Q: Could we ever keep the doors unlocked for lunch and expand the space that students have to eat? << Upgrades to the senior lounge < new paint < sound system < adapter to play videos from your phone < microwave A: “We review our bell schedule each year. However, at this time there is no plan to adjust passing time during this school year.” < table coverings << Coming soon Q: Why can’t juniors leave the campus on Fridays? < new chairs < foosball table A: “We have aligned our open campus more with the other comprehensive high schools. Open campus on Friday has become a senior privilege only. Privileges are something that are earned and rely on responsible use of the privilege. If a senior does not use the privilege wisely it can be revoked.” Q: What is the intended outcome of A: “We have already expanded the having many restrictions for students doors that will be unlocked during at Huron? Do these changes have lunch, which include the cafeteria anything to do with transitioning to This year new policies were put in place to keep Huron safer. One of those changes is to keep all doors. We have also expanded the an IB school? exterior doors locked during school hours. To enter the building, students, staff and visitors must lunch room area with the creation buzz in at the front doors, under the arch or by the athletic entrance if they are coming into the of a new ‘Senior Lounge.’ Like last A: “Each year, during the summer, building during school hours. Photo by Harley Hagen year, students can eat outside by the Huron administrators review our tables and under the arch. Students school’s safety plan and make cannot eat in other areas of the enhancements. Just a reminder, that school because teaching and learning is going on in these areas and eating in last year we removed the restriction for students to wear hats. Huron students these areas would be disruptive.” now enjoy the ability to wear hats at Huron. The locking of the doors is part of an enhanced safety plan, not a restriction, which impacts not just students, but staff and parents as well. Transitioning to an IB school includes increasing Q: In the past, upperclassmen have been able to leave the campus, why has this academic rigor for all students. Eliminating disruptions in the hallways during rule been changed? Does that have an effect on why the doors are locked? lunch hours and reducing tardiness before and after lunch is certainly aligned with this transition.” A: “There is no relationship between our campus being an open campus privilege on Fridays for seniors. The rule for upperclassmen being able to leave campus was changed. During the summer, building administrators reflected Q: Many Huron parents have had multiple children in our school, has there been on choosing the best student lunch option for 2016-17. There had been a much feedback regarding the rules this year? significant number of tardies and absences before and after the lunch hours last year. Criteria that we considered included student safety, student achievement, A: “There has been a little feedback. Some parents feel closed campus will assist reducing custodial cleanup after lunch, minimizing disruptions in the hallways in keeping students safer (open campus changes). The parents I have spoken during lunch, eliminating students eating in hallways during lunch, reducing to about the locked exterior doors understand the rationale and support the absences from class before and after lunch, reducing tardy returns to class implementation.” after lunch, recognizing seniors, and a greater alignment and consistency with Are you for or against closed campus? For Closed Campus 1% Neutral Stance: 16 % Against Closed Campus 14 % Neutral Stance: 44 % For Closed Campus Against Closed Campus 42 % 83 % 100 students were polled 50 staff members were polled George White| STAFF WRITER