The West Hempstead School Board listened to input from the community at a board meeting on Monday in order to reach a decision on whether to allow students to leave the West Hempstead High School campus during lunch periods.

No decision was reached, although the board could decide later in the month whether to have an open or closed campus policy. The campus has been closed ever since April 10 when three students were involved in a car accident. The three 17-year-old students were in a vehicle that lost control and struck a utility pole. The accident claimed the lives of Quinntin McDonald and Saul Hernandez Lopez.

The driver of the vehicle, Herbert Martinez, was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition in the pediatric intensive care unit. According to a hospital spokesperson, he was transferred to another facility on April 25.

School board member Marty Kaye said the board wanted to hear from the community during the school board session and was pleased at the number of people including students who turned out to give their opinions.

Kaye said, as he expected, half of the people wanted an open campus policy while the other half would like to see more of a tightening of controls on eligibility in terms of who is allowed to leave campus.

According to Kaye, prior to 1996, the campus was open for all students to leave, but then in 1996, the campus was closed for incoming ninth-grade students. Then, the following year, campus was also closed for 10th-grade students but it remained open for juniors and seniors. "It has worked very well. It continues to work very well except for that terribly tragic accident that occurred," said Kaye. "The terrible tragedy that we had is now bringing to the forefront the whole issue of the open, closed campus policy."

Since the accident, the campus has been closed but the board may open it again to junior and seniors. The students may be reminded of their responsibility to spend their time away from the campus during lunch period and return to school in time to return to their studies.

Some, though, wished the campus were closed in its entirety so that parents and guardians are confident that the students are secure the whole day.

The board will be meeting on June 24 at 8 p.m., most likely in the conference room in the high school, to discuss the campus policy again.

- Joe Rizza