Seniors Threaten Walkout Over Privileges At Concord High School

CONCORD, NH — Concord High School’s principal warned parents and students on Wednesday that a student walkout, planned for Friday, to protest the school’s closed campus and lack of senior privileges, could lead to consequences.

At issue is the closed campus at the school which, Michael Reardon, the principal, said was implemented to ensure student safety, order, and stability for the 2021-2022 school year, as students fully came back to school in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

For many decades, there have been varying levels of an open or closed campus at the school. Most recently, a senior with permission from parents could leave campus during an “open or unscheduled block of time.” At the school, each day is broken up into multiple blocks of time which can be up to 86 minutes. There are two separate schedules (A and B), on two separate days (Crimson and Tide), too.

Reardon said, along with parental permission, seniors who want to access open campus privileges need to be qualified — they are merit-based, which includes grades and disciplinary records.

As school started this year at Concord High, the privileges were suspended.

“We can’t have 350 seniors, coming and going, all day, especially after the last two years (dealing with the COVID-19),” Reardon said. “We really wanted to start out calm and focused, and then, after the first quarter, consider changes.”

Senior student leaders met with the administration to express concerns about the lack of privileges twice. During the first meeting, the students agreed to come back with a proposal and possible changes. During the second meeting, which was held on Wednesday, administrators saw a detailed four-page document produced by the students with ideas.

“They were a pretty impressive group of kids,” Reardon said, adding the process represented an invaluable educational experience for both students and educators.

Administrators will be eyeing the proposals students forwarded to them and will “think critically about what we do next,” he said.

At the same time, a parallel group of students proposed a walkout on Friday to protest the closed campus — with fliers appearing around the school promoting the event. Reardon informed parents about the walkout threat and fliers on Wednesday afternoon.

“I want to be clear about the perhaps obvious point that this action is not sanctioned by the school,” he said in an email. “Moreover, students participating in this are subject to consequences for cutting class — including their status for upcoming athletic events.”

Reardon requested parents discuss the issue with students and explain everything that was going on. A meeting, too, with students was planned for 3 p.m. on Thursday in the auditorium to discuss the issue.

“I firmly believe that privilege is an important part of being a senior,” Reardon said. “I just don’t want them getting into what they might get into, being teenagers. There are things right now that supersede (senior privileges).”

Reardon said after eyeing the student leader requests and meeting with other seniors on Thursday, to let them know what the administration and senior student leadership are doing, he hoped it could all be ironed out and everyone can move forward.

“This isn’t about punishment,” Reardon added. “But our primary concern is the safe functioning of the school.”

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