Closed Campus to Continue; Seniors Lose Ability to Drive During School Day

's closed campus will continue this coming school year and seniors will no longer be able to drive off campus to grab lunch at the , school board officials decided last night.

The decision marks the that had students, teachers, staff and parents arguing over pupils' rights and safety.

Ultimately, the board's decision to limit students' freedom was governed by security concerns. Officials brought up everything from personal anecdotes to recent news—like the —to support their choice.

"I've thought long and hard about the policy," explained board president Claudette Clarke. "It is our responsibility to keep our children safe." She recalled an incident at where a teen rode in a car's trunk because his friends had filled up the back seat—the vehicle was then rear-ended, and the teen hospitalized.

Board member Michael Lagana echoed Clarke's rationale. "For me, there’s absolutely no reason to have kids drive off campus," he said.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the —which will allow eligible sophomores, juniors and seniors to walk off campus—and five-to-two to discontinue seniors' driving privileges.

Several parents present were on-board with the decision, although not all were content with how it was reached. "It didn’t feel open and collaborative," said Emily Finer, noting she felt much of the board's discussions were carried out behind closed doors. "The process to get here was extremely flawed… it was really upsetting."

Students in particular are upset with the loss of driving capabilities; India Perez-Urbano, the school board's student representative, made a case for maintaining seniors' autonomy.

"Restricting us from a major privilege… takes away from feelings of trust and care and community," she said.