With New School Comes Much Change

Post Falls High School students no longer can hop in their cars and buy Big Macs for lunch because of the new school’s closed campus policy.

It is one of many changes students are seeing at the new school and one of the least popular. Some students are having a hard time adjusting and feel as though their freedom has been taken away.

“We feel trapped,” said Jessica West, a junior.

Principal John Billetz explained that there would have been closed campus this year even without a new building.

“There were a lot more tardies after lunch,” Billetz explained.

School board member Michelle Lippert added that the new school is bigger. “Now there is enough room for everybody.”

Billetz also said that traffic safety is a concern since the school is near Highway 41. Billetz said that there have been car accidents in the past involving students, but declined to mention any specifics.

Some students admit that having a closed campus has its good points.

“It keeps students from going out and smoking,” said Nathan Child.

Freshman Laura Berridge is more concerned about the juniors and seniors than she is about herself.

“I do not think it is fair for the older people because they can drive,” Berridge said.

Pauline Currie, a Spanish teacher, said the decision to have closed campus is a good one.

“It saves gas money and cuts down on accidents,” Currie said. Currie also said that when she went to high school at Coeur d’Alene there were many accidents.

Economics teacher Dave Corbeill also agreed that having closed campus is a good idea, considering the school’s location. The high school is located on the corner of Poleline and Pines Road at the edge of town. The lunch period at the school is only 30 minutes long.

“It would take too long to get to McDonald’s and back,” said Lippert.

Local fast-food restaurants have been impacted, too. Last year McDonald’s had about 50 students a day come to eat lunch. General manager John Pollock said business has declined.

“It has made things a lot slower,” said Pollock. Pollock did say, however, that the restaurant has been much cleaner.

Billitz said that he really appreciates how well the students have accepted having a closed campus with a minimum of discontent.

“Our intent is to provide a safe environment for our students,” said Billetz, “This is not a punishment.”

Another difference between the old school and the new school is that in the new school every teacher has their own classroom. Last year some teachers had to share rooms or were in different rooms at different hours of the day because there were more teachers then there were rooms.

The old high school was 96,000 square feet on 20 acres. The new school is about double that. It is 194,000 square feet and sits on 65 acres.

The major physical difference between the old high school and the new high school is that there are two floors in the new building. There are stairs in each corner of the school and also elevators. The elevators are off limits to students unless they have a disability.

Upstairs are the science and math classes and downstairs are the English rooms and the arena. Also downstairs are the choir and band rooms.

This is the first year the choir has had its own room. Last year choir students sang in the cafeteria. There are three separate recording rooms, which are soundproof, and there is recording machinery.

The weight room also has had major improvements. The weight equipment is brand new. Two new machines called Groundbase Jammers are specific in the training of athletes.

“I think we have the best high school weight room in the state by far,” said weight coach Steve Long.

Another change at the school is how students access the Internet.

“Each student will have their own private password,” said Vice Principal Mark Jones.

Last year students had to show their activity card to use the Internet.

“We’ve made it a lot easier,” said Billetz.