Student representative asks board to continue senior open‑campus pilot; board to review data in November

Owen Lord, the student representative, told the Regional School District 09 board he and peers asked the administration to continue a senior open‑campus pilot for the remainder of the school year.

Lord said the pilot requires an application, parental consent and that participating seniors maintain passing grades; students must sign out and sign back in with school security for each eligible period. He noted the pilot began as a one‑quarter trial two years ago, was later extended, and — after consultation with school security and the school resource officer — "has actually only gotten more efficient as time has gone on." (Owen Lord)

Board members pressed for data on how many seniors apply, the percentage of the senior class that participates, and absenteeism rates for participating students. One member urged that the board hear administration recommendations about whether the open campus should be codified in the student handbook or elevated to a formal board policy; another noted that if it remains an administrative practice, continuing to renew it annually without closing the pilot could become interminable.

Administrators told the board they would collect and present the underlying data — participation counts, academic standing thresholds, and attendance metrics — and return with a formal update at the November meeting so the board can decide whether to allow the pilot to continue administratively or to codify it in handbook language.

Next steps: the administration will prepare the participation and absenteeism data requested and the board will place the item on the November agenda for formal review.