Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : District Votes to Restrict Students to Campus at Lunch : Policy: Some William S. Hart Union trustees say the plan was rushed. But all agree that parents like the idea.

Many local high school students will be restricted to campus during lunch starting this fall after authorities approved a two-year plan to improve and expand campus facilities.

The decision was approved unanimously Wednesday night by the William S. Hart Union High School District board of trustees, although a few board members said they are concerned the district is rushing into the plan too quickly. But all agreed the idea of not letting students off campus at lunch is a popular idea with parents.

“I think if we don’t do something, nothing’s ever going to happen,” said board member Patricia Hanrion.

Ninth- and 10th-grade students at Santa Clarita’s four high schools will be kept on campus during lunches this year. Students in the 11th and 12th grades will be kept on campus beginning with the 1995-96 school year, although seniors will be able to earn the privilege of leaving campus during lunch.

District studies indicate parents favored closed campuses by about a 3-1 margin because they would know where their children were at lunchtime and the risk of off-campus trouble, such as auto accidents and fights, would be reduced.

Students overwhelmingly opposed closed campuses, stating that already long lines at the cafeterias and restrooms would become intolerable if all students were confined to campus. Many school administrators also expressed concern about the facilities and said additional security would be needed to prevent on-campus fights and make sure that students remained at school.

The district will spend up to $335,000 on improvements and extra personnel during the 1994-95 school year, said Assistant Supt. Daniel Hanigan. He said most of the money will be used to expand eating facilities, bringing four fast-food vendors, such as Subway and Pizza Hut, on campus in addition to the cafeteria’s usual selections.

Additional fencing, restrooms and student activities are also being considered, Hanigan said.

An unspecified amount will be spent for improvements for the 1995-96 school year, including attempts to establish food courts on campus. Hanigan said numerous details, such as how seniors will earn the privilege of leaving campus, still have not been worked out.

The expense of closing campuses concerned many board members, since the district is operating with at least a $1.9-million deficit in the 1994-95 general fund budget and expects another deficit next year. Officials hope increased revenue from food sales will cover the expenses associated with closing campuses.

Board members suggested saving money by making students who violate the closed-campus rule pick up trash during lunchtime and recruiting parents as volunteers to monitor restrooms, which students say are often unkempt and occupied by youths smoking or participating in other inappropriate activities.