EVERY week, it seems like Granger’s administrators announce a change to the way things are managed at Granger. With the addition of the gates on bathroom entrances and the new kiosk hall pass system, Many Lancers thought the changes would end. However, it seems like it is just the beginning — a new lunch detention is coming to Granger.

Under this new policy, a student with more than five tardies will serve lunch detention on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Lancers are wondering what’s next and why there is a sudden need for new tardy consequences.

Vice Principal McMillan dismissed concerns arising from the implementation of lunch detention. “Really, the only concern we have is that before we make this official, every voice gets heard, through our community council, the faculty, and the student council,” she said. “When we are having a new system of consequences, we also try to have a new reward system for those who are doing well on getting to class on time,” she said. What such a rewards system looks like remains to be seen.

Mr. Bernard, one of the credit recovery teachers, has been asked to host these Lunch Detainees in his room. Bernard was first approached about the topic at the Anti-Bullying Assembly. “Yes, I think this can fix some of the attendance issues we are having, and I also thought it was a good idea because the majority of these kids will also end up needing credit recovery. So it’s nice that I could build that relationship with them early,” he said.

However, Mr. Bernard also says he doesn’t even know all the details of this new policy.  “They are taking it to the Community Council first before they can officially implement it,” he said. He also mentioned that the administration is discussing bringing back old discipline systems that did not last, but may work now — OCR, for example.

Mr. Keyes is an advocate for bringing back OCR (On-Campus Restriction) at Granger. OCR was a disciplinary system that Granger used a couple of years ago to address tardiness. If a student came in late, they were placed in a room for the rest of that period to sit and do nothing.  During OCR, Granger was experiencing significant tardiness and absenteeism problems. It was much worse than what we are dealing with currently,” Keyes said. Keyes expressed his preference for OCR over lunch detention as an alternative, as it is immediate discipline.

Dr Wright is on board with this new lunch detention program. “We have had excessive tardiness, and students need accountability. Everyone needs a boss; everyone needs something to hold them accountable. We are hoping this will do that,” he said. Dr. Wright says he initially did not plan to make any changes this year and that all of these changes are coming from the district. Already, three other high schools in Granite District, including Cyprus and Hunter, are experimenting with a lunch detention system.

While there are still steps to getting the ball rolling on lunchtime detention, it may come sooner than we think. Mr. Bernard says he wants to hear the Lancers’ opinions on this to bring to the administration. Anyone who wishes to share perspectives and concerns on the possibility of lunchtime detention should visit him in room E 203!