Libby Middle-High School staff does its best to minimize campus interaction

Editor’s Note: A recent off-campus incident involved a Libby Middle School student and a High School student. While there was nothing school administrators could do to prevent the off-campus altercation, Principal Ruth VanWorth-Rogers was asked to explain on-campus procedures and policies for minimizing contact between the two campuses. This is her response.

Ruth VanWorth-Rogers

Commentary

Libby Middle High School is in the third year of consolidation.

During the 2? years, the staff and students have learned how to co-exist effectively in the same building.  

Interaction between middle and high school students is at a minimum during the school day. Naturally, students ride the bus to and from school and attend after-school events together.  

During the school day, students enter and exit the building at the same times, but meal locations or times are different to minimize interactions. Whole-school assemblies are even separate or have assigned seating in different parts of the gym.  

When looking at the structure of the building, middle-school students have their own wing for the majority of their classes. During passing periods, teachers are at doorways to their rooms, and administrators and support staff are in the halls to supervise.  When middle-school students have a class outside the middle school wing, they use alternate routes that minimize interactions. There is one crossover class in which eighth-grade students with parent permission are placed in a high school algebra class. All other courses are middle-school or high-school specific.  

The staff at Libby Middle High is committed to educating the youth of the community and keeping all students as safe as possible.

(Ruth VanWorth-Rogers is principal of Libby Middle-High School.)