Administration has increased enforcement of the policies relating to food and drinks in the academic wings of the school. In order to preserve the campus, students are no longer allowed to eat and drink in the halls. Those caught with food or beverages in these halls must throw it away.
“This is a fairly new school and you want it to look that way, even after a span of years,” Principal Dr. Shelly Butler said. “When you come back after you graduate and see your school, you don’t want to tell somebody that you graduated there if the school is old and gross.”
An increase in unwanted pests, such as cockroaches, has caused much concern relating to the policy, since eating in the hallways gives these critters more reasons for them to stick around.
“If I had to say one rule above the others, the word I would use is cleanliness,” Dr. Butler said. “We don’t really want to deal with [that].”
Although teachers don’t allow eating in the academic wing of the school, students can still have food in the entrance areas and the cafeteria. This allows the PTSA, Parent Teacher Student Association, to continue their sales in cookies. As long as the students eat the cookies out of the bags to prevent crumbs, they will be able to eat the snack in class. Dr. Butler also permitted the continuation of culture days in the classrooms. These food days are used for instructional purposes and are covered through the Texas and School Nutrition policy.
“I always say yes because I love [culture] days,” Dr. Butler said. “I never get to enjoy the food, but it is a great experience.”
Students may have small snacks in their bags that do not hinder classroom instruction. As long as students don’t lay out meals on their desks or bring in large styrofoam cups from fast food restaurants, they may continue their mid-class snack.
“I used to encourage my athletes to never pass by a water fountain without taking a drink or [to] always carry a water bottle to class, so I understand,” Dr. Butler said.
