Closed campus planned for high school

Could mean less trouble but some local business losses

By OLIVIA KOERNIG / Whitefish Pilot

Under the $21.5 million bond proposal umbrella, a closed lunch campus awaits Whitefish High School. While the school board has not yet formally approved the idea, superintendent Jerry House said all board members support the concept.

"Right now, we have a closed campus except at lunch," House said. "We can't have a closed lunch — there's no cafeteria."

Over the years, the school sacrificed its cafeteria to counselors offices and a science classroom. For students who remain on campus for lunch, folding tables are set up in the foyer. The tables provide seating for 156 of the 595 students currently enrolled at the main high school.

House envisions a traditional food court setting featuring several varieties of food. While the types of food and specific vendors are still unknown, the basic tenets are nonnegotiable.

"Nutritional food is mandatory," House said. "Whatever we do, we want healthy choices."

House noted that no specific vendors have been approached about collaborating with the school in the future. He said those administrative details can be worked out once the bond is passed.

But for some downtown businesses, when the details are worked out may be a moot point. For those businesses, a closed campus will simply take a substantial bite out of their lunch crowd.

A few such businesses are Markus Foods, The Bean Hive and Wrap and Roll Cafe. Assistant manager Patti Nicholas said the deli inside Markus feeds a gang of high schoolers every day — many for under $1 apiece.

"We have a very large lunch crowd, and the majority is school kids," Nicholas said. "A closed campus would definitely impact us."

Nicholas expressed concern whether a collaboration would even prove profitable for Markus if they continued supplying the types of foods the kids eat there now. The deli caters to kids' appetites and budgets. Corn dogs, burritos and pizza sticks, all nutritionally suspect and easy on the pocketbook, are among the top sellers.

"I'm just guessing, but our fried foods probably wouldn't adhere to nutritional guidelines," Nicholas said.

Amy Cassidy, manager at The Bean Hive, said the cafe would be similarly affected by a closed campus.

"They're probably 25 percent of my noon lunch crowd," Cassidy said of the high school kids. "I would definitely be losing business."

Participating in a food court inside the school "would not be an option" for The Bean Hive, she said. Cassidy hadn't been aware that a closed campus was even on the high school's agenda and wondered what prompted the idea.

"I think there are a couple other things they could try first," she said.

Cassidy suggested sending more officers to patrol the area as one possible solution. She also said allowing longer lunches and erecting speed bumps near the school would discourage the students from driving too fast.

Andy Diafos, owner of Wrap and Roll, also thought other options were worth exploring.

"I feel they should have both," he said. "They should have a cafeteria and allow juniors and seniors to leave for lunch, like every other high school in America."

Diafos said that while a closed campus would impact his business, he found it "ridiculous" that there isn't a cafeteria for the students. He said he'd be very interested in pursuing an opportunity inside the school court. He estimated that students account for 15 percent of his lunch business overall.

"The kids have been good customers for the past 10 years," he said. "I think they'd be excited to see me, versus a more commercial vendor."

As for why the district is contemplating a closed campus in the first place, House said there have been a number of incidents of students getting in trouble at lunch. He's fielded calls from community members living nearby the high school who are fearful to drive during the students' lunch break. He also said that as someone who has worked in districts with open and closed campuses, he's seen the discipline load diminish simply by closing a campus.

"It's all about keeping our kids safe and providing fewer opportunities for trouble," House said. "Keeping them on campus will do that."

Whitefish Police Chief Bill Dial said he completely backs the closed campus concept. He cited issues of traffic hazards, drug use and drinking, and older kids preying on younger kids for sexual activity all occurring during students' time off campus at lunch.

"They're juveniles," Dial said. "Research indicates they don't make the best decisions."