Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Lunch period at LGHS: Is it safe?

By Pam Fitzhenry

As parents with students at Los Gatos High School, we are very concerned about the safety of the students and the safety of members of the community during the lunch period. Members of the Parent Action Group, a concerned group of parents, approached the school administration and asked to have a survey distributed to all the parents regarding the issue of closing the campus.

The administration is not in favor of closing the campus entirely; however, administrators are willing to look into the possibility of adopting a policy to keep vehicles on campus during the lunch period. They are also willing to mail out a survey on that topic. We urge all members of the community to respond to the survey. (Those who do not have children in the school can voice their opinions by writing to Ted Simonson, principal, LGHS, High School Court, Los Gatos, 95030.) When you respond, please keep in mind the following facts:

Drug use has doubled in this country in the last 44 months, and Los Gatos is no exception to this statistic. It is a fact that students are leaving the high school during lunch, drinking alcohol and/or getting high on drugs and driving back to campus.

Administrators, law- enforcement officials and community members vary on their estimates of exactly how many students are indulging in alcohol or drugs during lunch time. Craig Heimbichner, assistant principal, said that anywhere from five to 15 students may be drinking alcohol or using drugs during the lunch period. He said that some of those students may be walking rather than driving.

Los Gatos Police Capt. Jeff Miller told us there is a growing concern from many community groups regarding alcohol and drug use on and around the campus. Various law-enforcement officials have been approached by community groups, parent groups and by individual citizens regarding the prevalence of drugs around the high school. A year ago in October, eight students were arrested in one week for drug-related offenses. Several students have been arrested this year.

Katie Boyd, deputy probation officer with Santa Clara County, told our group there currently are 17 students at LGHS on probation; 13 of whom are on probation due to drug- or alcohol-related incidents. She said it is not unusual to have 17 students on probation in a school the size of LGHS; however, she said it is very unusual to have so many as a result of alcohol- or drug-related incidents.

She also said that her sources informed her that last spring, students were leaving campus and going to someone's house for a "keg" party during lunch. She also said several of them were driving under the influence.

One student was hospitalized in October of this year as an indirect result of drugs.

In our opinion, it is time to give students a clear message that it is not OK to drink alcohol and drive or use drugs and drive. We can start with the lunch period at the high school. Los Gatos is one of the few campuses in the county that remains open. Campuses are closing all over the county and state due to safety issues.

Leaving the campus open during lunch is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege that is clearly being misused by some of the LGHS students.

As parents, we have a right to know that our sons and daughters are safe during the school day. If an accident should happen, we as parents will ultimately be held responsible, even if the student is 18.

Again, we urge all community members to respond to the survey, or send your comments to the high school.

If you disagree, let us know why. If you have suggestions to help implement the policy, please share them. If you think the lunch period should be made longer, write it down. (The lunch period is now 35 minutes.)

If you currently have students at Fisher Middle School, how do you feel about your students going to the high school and having the opportunity to get into a car with someone leaving the campus during lunch? It is important to hear from as many people as possible in an effort to solve this problem. It is our belief that as a community, we will make the right decision for the safety of all the citizens.

Pam Fitzhenry is a member of the Parent Action Group, a group of parents who came together following an alcohol-related incident last summer. She wrote this commentary on behalf of the group and some 40 members of the community who signed it.