reconstruction of the project

app/Models/Flag.php

@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 namespace App\Models;
 
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
+use App\Models\BaseModel;
 
-class Flag extends Model
+class Flag extends BaseModel
 {
     protected $table = 'flag';
+
+    // Table contains created_at/updated_at; enable auto timestamps (recommended).
+    public $timestamps = true;
+
     protected $fillable = [
         'student_id',
         'student_name',
@@ -26,5 +30,33 @@ class Flag extends Model
         'created_at',
         'updated_at',
     ];
-    public $timestamps = true;
+
+    protected $casts = [
+        'student_id'          => 'integer',
+        'updated_by_open'     => 'integer',
+        'updated_by_closed'   => 'integer',
+        'updated_by_canceled' => 'integer',
+        'flag_datetime'       => 'datetime',
+    ];
+
+    /* Optional relationships */
+    public function student()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(Student::class, 'student_id');
+    }
+
+    public function openedBy()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(User::class, 'updated_by_open');
+    }
+
+    public function closedBy()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(User::class, 'updated_by_closed');
+    }
+
+    public function canceledBy()
+    {
+        return $this->belongsTo(User::class, 'updated_by_canceled');
+    }
 }