Closed Campus Policy Not Extended; Superintendent Suggests Merit-Based System

Nyack High School's closed campus policy—a subject of recent debate among parents, students and administrators—will not be extended to November.

Interim superintendent Jason Friedman suggested the policy be extended from Oct. 31 to Nov. 9 at last month's board meeting. He noted the additional timeframe would allow the administration more time to assess the program's impact.

But at yesterday evening's school board meeting, the Board of Education voted against the recommendation, 3-3. The program will expire, as originally planned, on Oct. 31.

Residents at the meeting were still upset about the way in which the policy was first implemented; there was little time for input from parents and students.

"I ask [the Board] to end the pilot and go back and do it right," said Emily Finer, the parent of a high school student. "Include everyone in the decision."

Some, however, remain in favor of the policy. John Castelleno, the Nyack football coach who has worked with the school for 23 years, said the results are palpable.

"The tone of the building is so much better," he said. "The kids are all in the building, there's a lot of chemistry going on and they respect each other."

"Attendance in class is astronomical—they're not cutting classes anymore," he added.

Still, parents stressed the importance of gathering more information and statistics on and about closed campus policies.

"This is not an issue that lends itself to data analysis," Friedman said after the vote. "It relies more on issues like well-being."

Friedman also recommended the Board consider implementing a merit-based program for sophomores, where academic standing and disciplinary history would determine whether or not they could leave campus during the school day.

The Board of Education will vote on the issue at its Oct. 19 meeting.

The Board and administrators discussed the expenses of the project, as well.

Friedman noted the cost of the project—which was estimated to come in at $300,000—is considerably less. If the program continues as is, the price tag will only be $167,000.

"The initial cost included the hiring of eight security personel," Friedman said. "As it turns out we only hired five, and we're going to stay at this level—we don't feel there's a need to go any further."

About $130,000 of the $167,000 is geared toward security personnell's salary and benefits; the rest covers their equipment, like communication devices and an LCD television.