Schools

Nyack: Grades, Ability to Leave Campus Would Not Be Linked

GPA no longer a factor in determining off-campus eligibility

Nyack school board officials are continuing to hammer out the details of —and new changes would likely allow more students the opportunity to leave school grounds during the day than originally planned.

Previously, academic standing affected students' ability to travel off-campus during the school day. Only students who met a certain grade point average—along with other criteria—were allowed to grab lunch at Dish Deli, and other popular destinations.

That was originally the plan for this coming school year, too, but district officials have eliminated the academic standing clause from policy 5181, the official title of the closed campus initiative.

Find out what's happening in Nyack-Piermontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There are many kids in our district that really need time away from the hustle and bustle of school," said Leann Irvin, , at last week's meeting. "These might be kids not getting particular good grades, but are meeting other requirements [like attendance]."

Irvin's thoughts are echoed in the newly revised draft of Policy 5181. "The academic standing [clause] has been removed from the policy," explained superintendent . "We’ve taken that language out."

Find out what's happening in Nyack-Piermontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the current draft—which board members hope will be voted on at the August board meeting and implemented for the start of the 2011-12 school year—freshmen will not be allowed to leave campus. Juniors and seniors will be allowed to leave campus if they demonstrate satisfactory attendance records, good behavior in school and at school events and have their parents sign a permission slip.

Sophomores would have the same privileges and caveats as juniors and seniors, but their ability to leave campus would not go into effect until the second quarter of the 2011-2012 school year.

School officials said individual students can lose their ability to leave campus if they misstep; eligibility will be determined on a quarterly basis, and a single unexcused absence, suspension or similar blunder would cost a student their privilege. Students will be able to appeal a decision to the superintendent if they wish, school board members explained, and school officials have the ability to suspend the off-campus policy in the case of extreme weather or other unsafe conditions.

Additionally, under the proposed plan, no students will be allowed to drive off campus during the school day. Previously, seniors were permitted leave campus in their cars during school hours.

"[Those who disagree with the driving decision] argue that our young people have their independence, their parents trust them and the state trusts them," said board member Claudette Clarke. "But the thing that strikes me is that almost every college campus... does not allow [students] to drive their freshman year. They must have some wisdom."

Other board members clashed with Clarke, noting it is nonsensical that many seniors can choose to or be drafted into the armed forces to fight for their county, but would not be allowed to drive cars off campus.

senior India Perez-Urbano, who acts as student representative to the board, raised a number of questions on Nyack students' behalf. "What is going to be considered off-campus?" she asked, noting the Dish Deli—just down the hill from the high school—is currently considered off-campus. "I think it's a little ridiculous."

(Read how the closed campus policy has affected local businesses .)

The board will convene again August 23 to discuss the policy further.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here