At-risk freshmen to have limited lunches at HHS

Havre Public Schools trustees meeting at the middle school Tuesday, voted for the change in policy that allows Havre High School students to leave campus for lunch.

“It’s going to help students graduate on time,” said Havre High School vice principal Kipp Lewis. “They can always turn it back the next semester.”

The change will be in effect for next school year’s freshmen and will follow them through their high school career. In four school years, all classes will be under the policy. The change will not affect those already attending the high school, though their parents or guardians can request that they be put on it.

The students who are not on track to graduation, have too many behavioral referrals or too many absences will have their open campus lunch privileges removed for the following semester. Once that happens, they will be required to check in with administrators at lunch time and after eating will be tutored in their classwork.

Parents and guardians will have the right to review the administrative decision to take away an at-risk student’s open lunch privilege.

“We will provide the assistance for them to get back on track,” Lewis said.

One of the reasons the change was made to combat the unsatisfactory absence rates for the school. A disproportionate number of the absences occur in fifth period, the class after lunch.

All the school board trustees voted for the policy change except for Norman Proctor.