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Whether it is their first year or their last - expecting a fresh start. The 2008/2009 school year brought not only a clean slate for students, but also a metaphorical face lift for good ole’ HC.
New students may not have noticed anything peculiar about the ceilings, but veterans have probably detected the many cameras scattered around the school. In years past, students have gotten away with pulling fire alarms, fighting, or roaming the halls during class. These new cameras are intended to prevent disruptive behavior and up security.
According to Mr. Little, associate principal, the camera installation was long over due.
“We are the second to last school to get them, and a lot of other schools have them in other counties,” Little said.
Most people have also heard those loud, annoying beeps in the downstairs orange hallway. In one boy’s bathroom and one girl’s bathroom, smoke detectors were installed to prevent students from lighting up inside the school. According to administrators, these alarms will help cut back the number of smokers in the school.
“I would say that smoking both inside and outside has markedly decreased,” Mrs. Donovan, associate principal said.
Penalties for smoking inside and outside can be different, and students will be chastised at the discretion of each administrator.
“The punishment is up to each individual principal, but I’ll suspend the student for a day,” Donovan said. “I think [smoking inside] is much worse. Students can avoid going outside, but there’s no way to avoid the bathrooms.”
Perhaps the least shocking change is that the skip and tardy policy has changed – again. This year, teachers will be in charge of compiling skip and tardy lists, which will then be sent to Coach Zuckerman in the SAFE room. Students can receive punishments ranging from before or after school detention to SAFE to suspension. The administrators think that this year things will be different, and the policy will actually be effectively enforced.
“So far I’m feeling great about the new policy,” Donovan said. “The principals can’t handle skips with everything else going on, and by giving the responsibility to the SAFE people, it’s being enforced.”
Another important change is in staff. HC has seventeen new teachers, and Wade Stanfield, HC’s former Associate Principal, is now assigned to Central Office as a superintendent intern. Demetrius Gay, who used to teach heath and PE, has taken on the role of Head Teacher.
Mr. Nochta opened the position up to anyone who was willing. Several teachers applied, and Coach Gay was chosen for the job. According to Donovan, Gay has done well with his new position.
“He has done an incredible job,” Donovan said. “Of all the people Mr. Nochta interviewed, he was the best candidate. He knows a lot of kids, and he has the interpersonal skills to be a great Head Teacher.”