Juniors Might Be Granted Limited Open Campus

Swampscott High's new principal, Ed Rozmiarek, may be willing to grant juniors limited open campus — for first and last periods of the day.

The juniors would have to qualify for the privilege, just as seniors must.

Seniors who qualify may leave school when they have no scheduled class. The juniors who qualify would be allowed to leave the building only the first and last periods, if they have no regular class scheduled.

The principal broached the topic Thursday at a meeting with parents and students in the high school auditorium, a meeting on changes to how seniors celebrate their status on opening day.

Rozmiarek said he had been approached by students about whether open campus could be extended to juniors if they have no class scheduled the first or last period of the day.

He said he has spoken with administrators about it and will give it more thought.

He said he is leaning towards to granting the privilege.

Ultimately, though, the school is moving in a direction away from open campus, and towards offering more electives for students, he said.

Senior eligibility for open campus will be determined Tuesday, Oct. 15, pending progress report reviews. Until then there will be no open campus.

Eligibility rides on seniors being caring citizens who model the school's values and meet the following criteria:

• Maintain a 70 average or above
• Pass all classes each quarter. An F will make a student ineligible until the next progress report shows improvement
• No more than four unexcused absences in a quarter
• No more than four unexcused tardies in a quarter
• No disciplinary referrals resulting in suspension each quarter
• No class cuts
• Have the signed consent of a parent/guardian

The privilege may be revoked by the administration for any reason and any time, according to the regulations.

The principal said the administration pulled back from a requirement that would have called for students to wear lanyards with their IDs when signing in and out of the building.

The students will still need to have IDs on them; they just won't have to wear them on a lanyard.