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Rising seniors ask Berkeley Heights Board for open-campus lunch privilege
Summary
Students from Governor Livingston requested open-campus privileges for rising seniors, arguing it supports independence and mental health; the board asked logistics questions and indicated approval for the privilege pending schedule alignment.
Governor Livingston rising seniors asked the Berkeley Heights Board of Education on behalf of the Class of 2025 to grant open-campus privileges for the upcoming school year.
"We request that the privilege of open campus be granted to the rising seniors for the upcoming school year," Lauren, a student council representative, told the board, saying the class has matured and that leaving campus during lunch would relieve stress and support mental health. She said the change would also help students "learn and develop the new and necessary responsibilities that come with such freedoms." (Lauren)
Board members asked clarifying questions about how long students would be off campus and how schedules and study hall blocks affect available time. A board member noted a typical lunch block is 56 minutes and that, depending on students’ schedules, the break could be longer when combined with a study hall.
Acting Superintendent Bradford and other administrators said the board would coordinate start times and study-hall alignment to ensure the privilege fits the master schedule. The board congratulated the student council and confirmed that the open-campus privilege would be supported for the upcoming school year.
The board did not amend district policy during the meeting; members framed the decision as an authorization of a building-level privilege that would be monitored for compliance with school rules and return-to-school expectations.
The board moved on to review other agenda items, saying implementation details would be handled by administration and building staff.
Next steps: The administration will finalize logistics for open campus and communicate permitted times and expectations to students and families before the school year begins.
