Health Center rules now state that students can only stay there longer than 10 minutes if they are throwing up or have a fever. 

     Health Office Secretary Mary Ann Smith believes the restatement of the rules benefits students. 

     “The idea of the rules is to make sure there’s space available for the kids who are throwing up or feverish,” Smith said. “But it’s not that the other kids aren’t welcome if they aren’t feeling well.” 

     Some students believe this will bring good change to the health center and the entire school on a larger scale. The health center has been a place that students can go for health supplies, which students have found very helpful.

     “Lots of students come for stuff like ice, we have a limited amount of sweatpants, feminine products, something for a sore throat, anything like that, students will come in for.” Smith said.

     Some students take advantage of this, hanging out in the health room with their friends during class for an extended amount of time. The flood of students using the space inappropriately has forced a crack-down from admin in order to gain control again. 

     “I know a lot of people just go in there to skip, especially in PE. I think it’s a good rule,” senior Kayla Williams said. “It’s a good idea for keeping students in class and educated.”

     Mr Liebrecht, long time art teacher at OCHS also acknowledges how students abused the relaxed upholdence of the health center rules. 

     “Every single period there’s dozens of kids using the health room inappropriately,” Liebrecht said. “They reached a crisis point because they were so flexible with the rules. If they had been cracking down on these rules since day one, they wouldn’t have reached that crisis point and had to make those announcements.” 

     Liebrecht shares his concerns that come from this crack-down, bringing up the sicknesses going around OCHS and the dangers that come from how administrators have handled the crisis.

     “I don’t think it’s fair or safe,” Liebrecht said. “There are at least four respiratory viruses going around right now, and not being seen or taken seriously is aiding the spread.”

     Many students are worried about the effects this enforcement will have. They worry that if  you don’t meet the requirements to stay, you will be turned away, even if it’s something serious.

     “I think it could cause some issues if someone is sick or broke something but can’t stay there because they’re not actively throwing up and don’t have a fever,” senior Kylie Williams said.