Running up the stairs as the bell rings, the fear of being swept may begin to sink in for a student who is late to class.
The administration has enforced a new tardy policy. Students have five minutes between classes, and at the end of the passing period, students who do not make it to class will be swept by faculty and placed into in-school suspension (ISS). The policy has received mostly positive feedback from the faculty.

Science teacher Cathy Danielson said the tardy policy instills a skill in students that will carry past graduation.

“It allows teachers to start on time and for students to take education seriously,” Danielson said. “I think it’s something that carries on into the workplace.”

Social studies teacher Bruce Bryant agrees.

“It’s good because a certain number of students need the motivation,” Bryant said.

However, many students disagree with the policy, including freshman Dustin Campbell.

“I think it’s kind of dumb,” Campbell said. “I barely have enough time to get anything.”

According to freshman Chase Kazzee one of the biggest problems students face is getting from one building to the next. He said the walk from the Harding Learning Center up to Pirate Hall is a hassle.

“Going from Harding, to Main, to Pirate kind of sucks,” Kazzee said.

When students are swept, they are assembled in the cafeteria where they spend the remainder of class waiting for the next bell. Senior Elissa Kilmer said she does not like the aspect of students missing a whole class if one is tardy.

“I don’t like how they miss an entire class period when they could be learning,” Kilmer said.

The faculty agreed this is not directed at every student, as most students do not have any issues with getting to class on time; the policy is aimed toward the small percentage of students who are consistently late.

“ISS is unfortunate, but there needs to be a consequence to enforce the policy,” Principal Doug Holland.

Physical education teacher Linda George said the policy is sufficient, but  it could be better.

“It’s still a work in progress,” George said.

Kilmer does not see it as the teachers do.

“It’s not very effective here in our environment,” Kilmer said.

Bryant said he has faith in the tardy policy.

“The faculty just needs to keep a united front,” Bryant said. “If everyone follows it, it’ll all work out.”

The tardy policy will remain in effect throughout the year.

“I suspect it’ll become a habit,” Holland said. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about it for long.”