Closing campus at Posen School shows positive results

Running across a busy road during lunch time is no longer an option at Posen Consolidated School since the Posen School Board unanimously voted to close its campus, keeping students on school grounds during its entire academic day. The decision has also shown positive results in other areas, such as the success of its hot lunch program. Assistant administrator Dru Milliron said the decision to close campus was not made primarily to boost hot lunch sales, but rather to secure the safety of Posen students. Many students for years had been known to leave school grounds on foot in order to purchase lunch from local businesses. Crossing M-65 had become a main safety issue with the school and some members of the community.

?We want parents to know that this decision was made more for safety than for money in the hot lunch program,? said Milliron. ?This keeps students off the road, and away from traffic.? Although safety is a key issue in the decision, the positive benefits from closing campus have made a lasting impression in the hot lunch program. The district deposited $2,000 from hot lunch sales last week ? about double what it usually receives. The program highlights more of a variety of foods, and even boasts some home-cooked meals. ?Our hot lunch program has increased since the closing of campus, and the cooks are doing a great job of keeping up,? said Milliron. ?We have more variety and choices to offer our students.? Milliron also said the school?s enrollment is up to 297 students. One more student was added this week.