FULLERTON : 7 Schools Decide on Lunch Policies

Some high school students will no longer be able to leave campus for lunch at Buena Park, Troy and Fullerton high schools.

Starting in September, at Troy High, ninth- and 10th-graders will not be allowed to leave campus; 11th- and 12th-graders will. At Fullerton High, ninth-graders will not be able to leave campus; and even older students must receive parental permission to dine out. At Buena Park High, all students may leave if they have parental permission.

Currently, all schools in the district allow students to leave at lunchtime. The new policies are the result of Supt. J. Kenneth Jones in September asking principals of the seven schools in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District to consider whether to close their campuses at lunchtime.

The seven principals presented their decisions Tuesday at the district board meeting. The principals, not the board members, have final authority.

La Vista Continuation, Sonora, Sunny Hills and La Habra high schools will continue to let all students leave campus at lunchtime.

In deciding on the change at Troy High, Principal Jerry Atkin said he met with students, parents and staff. “There seemed to be a trend of concern that younger students be restricted to stay on campus,” he said.

Fullerton High School Principal Ed Shaw said he met with representatives from the student body, staff, parents and community. Shaw said the community’s concern for a safe school prompted him to close the campus for younger students.

A 15-year-old student at Fullerton High was shot to death in September. Police believe that the slaying was triggered by a noontime shouting match between two groups of youths at a McDonald’s restaurant frequented by Fullerton High students.

To get permission to leave at lunchtime, both students and their parents will be required to sign a statement at the school office, Shaw said.

Brian Singer, a student who attended the board meeting, questioned Shaw’s decision. “I’m just wondering how did they choose that ninth-grade students are any less mature than some 12th-grade students?” he said. Singer, 16, is editor of the Pleiades, the school’s newspaper.