Open Campus Rights Restored to Newfield H.S. Seniors

The Newfield Central School Board of Education granted the senior class open campus privileges at its Thursday, October 16 meeting. In other news, the high school recently inducted 56 students into the National Honor Society, the largest class Newfield has ever inducted.

Four students attended the board meeting and requested the open campus privilege, outlining certain rules seniors must observe to retain their open-campus rights. Students must be passing all classes, have no standing detentions, exhibit good behavior and attitudes, sign in and out of school and return on time or the privilege can be revoked. The students also said that if a senior is driving off campus during school hours they may only have one passenger and open-campus privileges may be suspended for inclement weather. Before granting the request, several board members stressed responsibility and safety.

Seniors have had open-campus rights for the past several years but last year’s students proved to be irresponsible and abused the privilege, said Sue France, high school principal. If the problem persists this year France will begin by revoking individual students’ rights but said she would not hesitate to cancel the privilege all together if necessary. Before any senior can leave campus a guardian must sign a permission form at the school.

Sigrid Laine, of the bus garage, presented a transportation report to the board. She said the beginning of school went smoothly but buses are extremely full. Many buses are carrying more than 50 students, with younger students sitting three to a seat, the state limit. A new bus equipped with a handicap lift is expected to arrive in the next few weeks and will replace an older bus.

Two mini vans owned by the district did not pass a Department of Transportation inspection because of rust on the body, Laine said. The vans can still be legally driven but may not carry students. They are now being used by staff and for a driver’s education class.

The roof of the elementary school is 95 percent completed but contractors are waiting for supplies before they can continue work. The retaining wall for the addition behind the high school has been poured and the project is ahead of schedule. The district was hoping to launch its new phone system on Friday, October 17. So far, less than $2 million have been spent on the district’s capital project.

The board approved a request from Superintendent William Hurley to send used computer equipment to Kenya with a Newfield Central School alumna. The former student has taken several trips to Africa and approached the school about the possibility of donating the old equipment to a Kenyan school during her next trip, Hurley said. The district first tries to sell old computers but if the equipment is not purchased it is simply recycled. Hurley said the computers that will now be going to Africa would otherwise be thrown away.

The board approved a request for $500 made at the last meeting to help fund transportation for the ski club. The request was approved, with four out of six votes, but carries the stipulation that the board will not help fund the out-of-school club in the future.

Copyright “Newfield News” October 22, 2008