Should Nyack Seniors Be Allowed to Drive Off Campus?

Should seniors—some of whom are 18-years-old—be allowed to drive off campus during their free periods?

That's the latest question in Nyack High School's closed campus saga, a debate that and has parents, teachers, students and school board officials arguing over pupils' right to leave campus.

All parties will likely find out the answer at tonight's school board meeting—officials are hoping to vote on the and implement it for the 2011-12 school year. The plan, if passed, will not allow seniors to motor off school grounds during the school day.

The current draft—labeled policy 5181—also prevents all freshmen from venturing off school grounds. Juniors and seniors would 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.

Originally, students' ability to leave was tethered to their GPA—if they did not receive satisfactory grades, they were not allowed to grab lunch at popular spots like and Dish Deli. But school officials have eliminated that stipulation, noting poor marks and poor behavior do not always go hand in hand.

"[There] might be kids not getting particular good grades, but are meeting other requirements [like attendance]," explained Leanne Irvin, .

Read about last month's school board meeting—and what residents had to say—.