Middletown High School Seniors Soon Able To Leave Campus During Day

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Starting Jan. 8, high school seniors at Middletown's two high schools will be able to leave campus during the midday break for lunch.

This was announced at the most recent Middletown school board meeting, held Tuesday night, Dec. 19 (You can watch it here; they start talking about this at hour 1:46.)

Superintendent Jessica Alfone announced the district will try this out starting Monday, Jan. 8. High school seniors at North and South will be able to drive or walk off campus between blocks 3 and 4 (about 10:15-11:12 a.m.), which is when the schools break for lunch.

Yes, the teenagers have to return for afternoon classes.

It's called the "Senior Open Campus Initiative," and this is the first time the Middletown school district has ever allowed something like this.

"We are going to really emphasize this is a privilege. And with privilege comes great responsibility that also can be removed if needed," said Alfone at the BOE meeting Tuesday night. "We really have come up with a plan where we believe we will be able to provide our seniors this privilege to be able to leave campus during blocks 3 and 4."

When school resumes after winter break, the North and South senior classes will have presentations "to lay out the process and expectations," she said.

Alfone said the idea came about from forums the district held this past fall where Middletown students told the district how their school experience could be improved.

"From both high schools, they talked about this idea of seniors being able to leave campus during blocks 3 and 4," said Alfone. "For a lot of reasons: Independence, structuring time, a lot of them have fulfilled many of their graduation requirements."

The superintendent said after talking to both North and South principals and the Middletown Police chief, she agreed to try this.

Alfone said she liked that the idea came about from listening to the teenagers at those fall sessions.

"Kids see that their voice matters. When we can do things that we feel will enhance their experience, we will."

Tuesday night, Dec. 19 was the final Middletown BOE meeting for 2023. You can watch it below. It was board member Harmony Heffernan's final meeting. The next meeting will be Jan. 3, at which time the board will vote on a 2024 school board president and vice president, roles currently held by Frank Capone and Jacqueline Tobacco.

Next Middletown School Board Meeting Is Jan. 3