Due to a high amount of tardies, both reported and unreported, Administration decided to enact random “sweeps” at the end of passing periods.

The tardy sweep is a stricter way of counting students tardy, and repeatedly being late can lead to detentions very quickly.

“If we don’t make it a priority to start class on time, why should you make it a priority to be at class on time?” said Jeff Wead, Dean of Students.

Wead and Principal Tony Vining, both reported that the main reason Cactus Shadows decided to do sweeps was because they noticed an increase of students lingering

outside of their classes after the bell rang.

“If you’re here on campus, you need to be in a classroom. I don’t feel like going from Point A to Point B is that difficult. You should be able to be in class on time,” said Vining. “I think there’s plenty of time for students to interact and talk to each other.”

This is not the first time Cactus Shadows has implemented a sweep. In the early 2000s, they would sweep students up at the end of each passing period and make them sit through a detention for the period. A high amount of tardies and detentions led to suspension.

“[The punishment] depends on you. It depends on how many tardies you have,” said

Wead. “We fight for every educational second we have.”

While students at Cactus Shadows may receive warnings before detention, other schools’ students may not be as lucky. According to an article in the Olympian at Castro Valley High School, a message plays over the intercom that tells all of the late students to report to the cafeteria to receive detentions. The threat of detentions provides students with an incentive to get to class on time.

“If students [don’t have time to] use the restroom between class, and they don’t want students to disrupt the class, when are we supposed to go?” said Aidan Vance, a junior.

If students pay better attention to their attendance and avoid being late, the school will stop the sweeps.