Hoover Officials Firm About New Schedule Despite Walkout

One day after hundreds of Hoover High School students walked off campus to protest new schedules, school administrators reaffirmed their commitment to the changes, saying they are needed to assure security on campus.

Principal Teresa Saunders and other officials met with groups of students Wednesday to discuss the walkout that protested the cancellation of the 19-minute break between second and third period, which eliminated the daily snack period.

The change enabled the school to divide lunch into two periods with about 1,400 students each, rather than one lunch with about 2,800 packed into the middle of the campus.

Despite Tuesday’s walkout in which 30 police officers were called to round up about 400 students who marched several blocks off campus, administrators defended the schedule change, which began Monday on only a few days’ notice.

District spokesman Vic Pallos said the move was in response to an incident last Thursday during lunch at the school, in which hundreds of students “stampeded” to see a rumored gang fight that never took place.

“The main issue is that nearly 3,000 students during one lunch period is difficult to supervise,” Pallos said.

“This is a move that was necessary, because of the increasing number of incidents on the campus. We have to maintain a safe and secure environment for the students, and if that is threatened, then the school needs to take action, even if it’s not popular.”

The loss of snack period, some students said, leaves them no time to grab something to eat before lunch or use the restroom. To allay those concerns, school officials said they will probably fine-tune the schedule and extend the six-minute interval between second and third period to about nine minutes.

Students are also being surveyed for suggestions on improving campus security.