Lamar Middle School Institutes Strict Student Anti-Loitering Rules

NORTH AUSTIN, TX -- Lamar Middle School administrators are bringing down the hammer in combating student loitering.

School officials are cracking down on loitering by students after school, along with banning students from going to athletic events unless accompanied by an adult, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

The changes ares effective immediately.

Another bit of new strict enforcement: Students could potentially lose their ability to use the school bus service if they ride the bus to classes, but not from -- a round trip, in other words.

Also: Students are no longer allowed to stay on campus after school waiting for athletic events to happen, typically about 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Principal George Llewellyn explained the reason for the changes is that unsupervised students congregate in large groups on or near campus, which is adjacent to a busy intersection lined by businesses. Llewellyn detailed the reason for the tightened rules in a letter to parents sent Feb. 11.

In the letter, Llewellyn said people working at those surrounding businesses have reported “vandalism and unruly behavior” to a level that has caused them to lose customers. He listed 7-Eleven, Amy’s Ice Cream, HEB and other businesses as among those affected.

According to the Austin ISD website, Lamar Middle is home to a Fine Arts academy, providing “...a robust program for students across Austin in visual arts, dance, band, orchestra, choral music, drama, classical guitar, piano, digital arts and media.”

The school is the primary feeder to McCallum High School. This academic year, the campus marks its 60th anniversary.