Upon returning to school, South students faced rule changes regarding hallway passes, SRT time, and where to eat during lunch. All students can be supervised and accounted for, Casey Wright, Assistant Principal, said. 

South Principal Dr. Barbara Georges does not believe these new rules are too drastic, but believes  that they allow staff to account for students throughout the school at all times. 

“[The rules are] pretty minor changes, and our hope is that everyone values the school feeling calm and safe,” Georges said “[We hope] that everyone is willing to make these very minor adjustments for the greater good of the school building feeling like a fun and safe and calm place to be.”

During Covid-19, students were given a large degree of freedom during lunches, but due to feedback about student loitering, unsupervised students, and large messes during lunch periods, the areas that students are allowed to eat in have been limited to the cafeterias, courtyard, SAC, and concession stands, Wright said.

“We have to make sure that we balance the protection of the building and the cleanliness of the building,” Wright said.

Regarding the SRTs, Ronald Bean, Dean of Students and Assistant Principal, said that there are no differences in how students can access resources, but that students will need to scan into them, another change that allows South’s staff to supervise students. 

“Our freshmen have always stayed [in SRT] for the whole 90 minutes,” Bean said. “Kids can go to a teacher, the test center, the TLC—they can still do all that, we just ask that they have a pass.” 

Similar to the SRT passes, there are now colored hallway passes that allow students to get to the bathroom, Bean said. The passes allow staff to know where each person is heading, Wright said.

“It helps  [our security] easily identify people and a pass that they’re carrying,” Wright said. “In terms of students getting what they need, I [don’t] think it’s much of an impact, “

These policies will ensure that South becomes a safer and more productive place, Wright said. Supervision is a key component. 

“We have enough security in our building, but we can’t be in every place all the time, and it’s our responsibility to make sure that young people are supervised at all times of the day,” Bean said.