BHS student's request for open campus touts economic benefits

Bigfork High School student Seth Roessman requested the Bigfork School District board of trustees allow open campus lunch during their regular board meeting on Sept. 19. Under the proposal, it would mean high school students with good grades, and less than two tardies per quarter, would be allowed to leave campus during lunch.

“I don’t want the notion that we are putting hoodlums on the street, it is the honor roll you are putting out there,” Roessman said.

With the high school’s “senior privilege” the school already offers an open campus opportunity for some seniors. But, with the stipulations proposed by Roessman the number of students initially allowed off campus would be about 30 for the initial quarter compared to about 15 who use the senior privelege.

Roessman worked on this proposal with BHS senior Isaac Reichner, but Reichner was unable to attend the meeting.

Roessman said the main reason for the proposal was for better food for the students, to boost the local economy, and to get BHS students more involved with the community. He said they spoke to businesses in the community and none were opposed to the school switching to an open campus.

The proposal asked for a probationary period during second quarter just for seniors that would eventually expand to include juniors and sophomores with parent permission.

“Just about every school in the Flathead has open campus,” BHS principal Matt Porrovecchio said. “I’m really kind of torn, I want to support them because they’ve gone the extra mile, but I’m concerned about supervision and safety.”

Porrovecchio’s concerns were shared by some of the trustees as well.

“Thirty minutes is a short time by the time you get to your vehicle and then try to get back,” chairperson Maureen Averill said.

Board member Mike Roessman, Seth Roessman’s father, suggested the open campus policy should function as a lesson in responsibility and as a reward system.

“They have to learn to manage themselves in public and take care of themselves as young adults,” Mike said. “Look at the big picture, I’m not advocating because my son is presenting, but because opportunities are there.”

Bigfork Elementary School principal Matt Jensen was principal of the high school when the school removed open campus during final exams. He said the school had trouble with kids not returning, missing their final exams because they were late getting back, and that some would come to school sick in order to not have too many absences to qualify.

Averill said the reason the school no longer has open campus is because of drugs and alcohol, but that she wasn’t opposed to doing a trial run. Superintendent Cynthia Clary was opposed to the request, but for reasons beyond just safety.

“Almost fifty percent of the kids are on free or reduced lunch,” Clary said. “They might not have money for food. We are talking about some kids who get two meals a day here, and we don’t want to eliminate that because of peer pressure.”

The board tabled their decision until their October meeting, which is currently scheduled for Oct. 24.