There will be a change for how some Whitefish High School students spend their lunch period next school year.

Sophomores will now be required to eat lunch on campus for the first half of the school year and will only be allowed off campus for the second semester if they meet certain criteria. Previously only freshman were required to remain on campus during lunch.

The Whitefish School Board approved the shift along with annual updates to the school’s student handbook.

“That was a big discussion with our sophomores — they are very anxious for that next step to get off campus,” assistant principal Jackie Fuller said. “What we have developed is an incentive program that they will be able to earn that opportunity to leave campus.”

To earn off campus privileges for the second semester, sophomore students must meet five criteria for the previous grading quarters. A student must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, no unexcused absences, no discipline referrals, is only allowed a maximum of three excused absences per class and is only allowed a maximum of two tardies.

Fuller said she worked with student council representatives and members of the sophomore class to create the five criteria.

Questions were raised about whether the GPA requirement is a good indicator of whether or not a student is responsible enough to leave campus.

Superintendent Kate Orozco said she supports the incentive program, but questioned the GPA portion.

“Does GPA always indicate great responsibility,” she asked. “Might we see some kids who struggle to get the required GPA, but they are some of the most responsible kids we could find.”

Principal Kerry Drown said the GPA requirement is a starting point for next school year and could change later if necessary.

“We’ve created a program to help transition students through to become more independent and responsible by the time they leave us as seniors,” Drown said. “We wanted to recognize those behaviors that demonstrate a higher level of readiness to make good decisions off campus.”

Trustee Heather Vrentas said she hopes the new high school building will be an incentive for students to remain on campus at lunch.

“We hope in the new environment they will actually want to stay,” she said. “Maybe it won’t be as much of an issue when the culture is that it’s an exciting place to be.”

Fuller noted that a high percentage of students already remain on campus because clubs meet at lunch time.

Drown said he doesn’t foresee a time when campus would be closed for all grade levels.

“The vision is more so of creating the culture where there are desirable food choices, an environment and activities going on that cause them to want to stay,” he said.