Board of Education unanimously passes decision for new year
Newcastle High School will be a closed campus for student lunches starting when school picks back up after the holiday break and the new year begins.
The decision to close the campus was made by the Board of Education in a unanimous vote at the August 18 Board meeting.
NHS Principal Adam Hull said, “Beginning with the second semester in January 2027, Newcastle High School will be a closed campus for lunch. Students whose academic schedules require them to leave campus, including students participating in internships, dual credit courses, CareerTech programs, or other approved off-campus educational opportunities, will still be permitted to leave as necessary.”
Hull said the main reasons for the district to make the change were student safety and protecting instructional time, but the addition of a new, more accommodating, cafeteria aided in making the decision.
Hull said the goal is not to take something away from students, but instead to create the safest environment the district can while making sure students are in class and receiving the instructional time they need.
Students impacted are sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshmen have been required to remain on campus.
“For a student to leave campus, travel to a restaurant, wait for food, return through traffic, park, and make it to their next class on time requires them to move very quickly,” Hull said. “That creates both a safety concern and an instructional concern when students return late.”
Hull said there have been vehicle accidents involving students during the lunch period, while students were permitted to leave campus.
“I would be hesitant to say that open campus was the sole cause of any particular accident, but having a large number of student drivers leaving and returning to campus within a 30-minute period certainly creates additional safety concerns,” Hull said.
Administrators heard from one student who said they did not feel safe trying to leave campus, navigate the traffic, get food, and return to school within the allotted lunch period.
“When a student who has the privilege of leaving campus tells us they do not feel safe doing it, that is something we have to take seriously,” Hull said.
He said the completion of the high school’s new cafeteria provides a better environment for students, and gives the space and facilities necessary to comfortably accommodate students on campus during lunch.
“The new facility makes this a good time to address concerns associated with students leaving campus and returning within a relatively short lunch period,” he said.
The new cafeteria is considered a significant improvement for students. It can accommodate 1,200 students and provides students more room to eat, socialize and enjoy their lunch period without having to leave campus, the principal said.
With the change to closed campus, the District is preparing to involve students in the meal program.
“We are also excited about opportunities to involve our students in the food program itself. Our Family and Consumer Science teacher is partnering with our Child Nutrition Directorandculinarystudentstodevelop student-created menu items,” Hull said. “I think that gives our students some ownership in what is being served while also providing our culinary students with a great realworld learning experience.”
Hull said he hasn’t personally heard “significant opposition from parents or school officials regarding the change,” although there could still be differing opinions on open versus closed campus.
He said, “That does not mean everyone will agree with the decision, and we understand that students and families may have different opinions about open-campus lunch. Ultimately, our responsibility is to make decisions that we believe best support the safety and education of our students.”
