Returning from winter break, students and faculty are forced to adjust with several “new” policy changes. For many, these policies seem unnecessary, but for others they serve as a much-needed call to responsibility. 

Some of the changes this semester are the neon passes being given to students going to the bathroom, the closing of TigerDen during passing periods and tardy slips being issued to late students. 

“We took the first semester to evaluate where we were after Covid,” Principal Dr. Stuart said. “They are not so much new rules, they’re the rules that have been in place through Covid that haven’t been enforced. We’re just trying to get back to getting students here on time, keeping them in class… and teaching them responsibility.” 

One of the policies that students have expressed their struggle with is the issuing of tardy slips in the morning. In the past semester students could head right to their first hour despite being late; now students must wait by the door to be issued tardy slips.

The past several days a line of late students ran through the commons backing up all the way to TigerDen. According to Dr. Stuart, this number has reached to over 100 students.

“I think I’m going to be 10 minutes later than I would have been if I was normally walking in, ” senior Ava Waltenberger said. “It’s not productive at all.”

Senior Cole Simpson shares a similar opinion. “I think this is ridiculous,” Simpson said. “This really keeps kids from getting to their classes in the first place. So, they’re losing even more schooling than they would have been without this line coming in all throughout the commons.”

Despite the negative feedback about the policies, Dr. Stuart says that several people have expressed their gratitude about enforcing the new rules and putting pressure on students to get to school. 

Senior Troy Shaffer shares that the new policies are helping him take accountability for showing up to school on time. 

“It gives me a sense of responsibility to get up every morning so I’m not late. Without these rules being enforced I know I would just show up late pretty much every day,” Shaffer said. 

Dr. Stuart says that enforcing these rules will be beneficial in holding students accountable and help them prepare for life outside of high school. 

“People kind of got used to coming and going as they pleased,” Dr. Stuart said. “So once again it’s not new rules, it’s just old rules being enforced.”