LAGUNA BEACH : Students to Stay on Campus at Lunch

Beginning Sept. 9, Laguna Beach High School students will have to remain on campus for lunch.

Though most of the school’s students have typically left campus at noon in previous years, the Laguna Beach Unified School District board voted unanimously Tuesday to corral the teens. The shift in tradition was opposed by most of the school’s 730 students.

While many students felt it was unfair to limit their freedom and some have said being allowed to leave campus helps teens develop self-reliance and responsibility, the board was more concerned about “safety and student welfare,” Supt. Paul M. Possemato said.

“They felt those were much more pressing and prevailing” needs, he said.

In addition, Possemato said, school officials feel a closed campus will help them involve more teens in lunchtime activities intended to build school spirit and boost student morale.

Administrators, cafeteria operators, counselors and others met Wednesday to discuss ways to achieve that goal, Possemato said.

In addition, more commercial food services may be allowed on campus, the superintendent said.

In the past, about 500 to 600 students have typically left school each day for lunch, Possemato said.