Story by Beth Mlady
A concept will be piloted for the 2023-24 school year that allows a select number of seniors the option of leaving the Berea-Midpark High School campus for the hour during the school day allotted for Lunch and Learn activities.
Parental consent will be required, even if the senior is 18 years old.
Berea City School District Superintendent Tracy Wheeler spoke to the Board of Education about the proposal at its July 10 regular meeting.
She explained that the Lunch and Learn hour until now has served approximately 1,500 to 1,700 students. The high school has no cafeteria.
“The rationale is to get some students out of the building so we can really work with and address the kids having academic or behavioral difficulties,” Wheeler said.
“(Principal) Mark Smithberger … has narrowed down (the pilot group) to seniors with a 3.0 GPA and no disciplinary or attendance issues.”
She indicated that 217 seniors would be eligible based on those factors.
“That does not mean all seniors would take advantage of it,” Wheeler said.
Nearby districts with an open campus concept already in place include Avon, Avon Lake, North Royalton and Olmsted Falls.
A longer Lunch and Learn period may be possible if the senior has a study hall just prior to, or immediately after, the normal hour. It would extend that student’s open campus period “if that is something they already have worked into their schedules,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler expressed her support for the pilot.
“I think it’s a great way to test it out,” she said. “They are working on the system that will integrate with Infinite Campus (parent portal).”
Attendance taken in the senior’s fifth-period class will confirm that he or she has returned after leaving campus.
Smithberger plans to communicate all program details to parents no later than Aug. 1.
The pilot program will be reevaluated at the end of the first quarter, Wheeler said.