UPDATE: CVHS Students Have Unexcused Absences Each Day After Lunch

UPDATED: With the CV Town Council meeting about one week away, there's one topic that will definitely make the agenda: should Crescenta Valley High School have a closed campus?

GUSD Superintendent Dr. Richard Sheehan will address locals next Thursday about possibly closing the campus to restrict students from leaving during lunch.

Since school started last week, about six students have had unexcused absences after lunch each day.

A daily average of about 38 CV students missed fifth period each day during the 2010-2011 school year, following the 35-minute lunch break, said Dr. John Garcia, Deputy Superintendent of Glendale Unified School District.

addressed today how some of these students could have ditched school following the lunch hour at CV, the only high school in the district that allows students to leave the campus during lunch break.  

Garcia spoke about these absences, tardy students, arrests and accidents that happen during lunchtime in La Crescenta and Montrose.

During the first week of the 2011-2012 year, about 25 students were tardy during fifth period each day, Garcia said.

Last school year three students were arrested during lunch period, one in a weapons-related arrest and two for drug-related arrests. Two students ran or drove away from law enforcement and another student was cited for speeding.

Two traffic crashes also happened last school year during the students’ lunch break, Garcia said, including one injury collision along Foothill Boulevard and another on the Foothill (210) Freeway.

 “We want to make sure that at all times our students are safe,” Garcia said.

The district is responsible for students during their lunch break, even when they are off campus, Garcia said.

CV Town Council meets Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at , 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta.