School Committee Takes a Measured Approach to Prospective Changes

The School Committee has referred proposed changes to open campus and graduation credits to the board's policy subcommittee to gather more information.

Earlier, the committee heard arguments against open campus privileges extended to seniors. These priviliges allow seniors to leave school grounds when they do not have a class.

The arguments pointed to difficulty enforcing open campus rules and that students' academic needs, and those of other students, would be better served if seniors remained at the school during free periods.

Recently, at the committee's last meeting, Wednesday, students had their say on open campus, urging the committee to preserve it, according to the chairman, Rick Kraft.

As far as the change to credits needed to graduate goes, the change would increase students' minimum credits from 100 to 120.

It would also require students to take at least six classes each semester, instead of at least five classes.

Superintendent Lynne Celli reported that the district's attorney advised her that both the open campus and graduation credit changes are policy changes which the full School Committee would need to approve, the chairman said.

The chairman said the committee is taking a more measured approach to prospective changes.

"It has become apparent that it's more important to gather information as widely and from as many constituencies as possible (administrators, teachers, parents, students) than to make a quick decision," Kraft said.

The chairman also said the new high school principal would like to be involved in the decision making, so the committee wants "to give him an opportunity to meet with the constituencies and make his own recommendation as well."

No timeline was established for a recommendation to the School Committee.