Beginning this fall, BHS students no longer have the privilege of an open campus.

In previous years, open campus allowed upperclassmen to leave the building during their lunch or free periods.

Free periods are now only available during first or eleventh period, giving some students the option of coming into school late or leaving early.

“Students might feel that [closed campus and limited free periods] restricts some of their freedoms, but it allows us to make sure that we’re protecting the sanctity of the classroom,” Principal Tony Srithai said.

Srithai added that closing campus had been an ongoing plan due to safety concerns.

Police officer C.J. Piro, Beachwood Schools’ Director of Security, wanted to close campus since he began working at the high school.

BHS gets a lot of visitors, such as those coming for Excel TECC programs or Elder Class events.

According to Piro, open campus made it much more difficult to monitor who was coming in and out of the building.

“It’s a big concern with school safety,” Piro explained. “The openness of campus can sometimes draw outside people in and it’s difficult [for those] watching the front door to always know who should and shouldn’t be allowed in.”

A closed campus helps administrators keep track of where students are throughout the day.

“From a safety standpoint it helps us make sure they’re safe,” Principal Tony Srithai said. “At least [during the school day], we can guarantee parents we know where their child is.”

Srithai noted that there are now more students in study halls and fewer students out in the hallways throughout the day.

Unexcused absences and tardies have also been cut down.

Piro’s main concern is to provide a safe learning environment for everyone.

“We’re here to learn. Let’s get it done and let’s be safe while we’re doing it,” he said.

While junior Athena Grasso is disappointed with the decision to close campus, she understands the need to keep students safe.

“We’ve seen that there’s been more gun violence in this country, so I think [the administrators] have a right to feel that if they have everyone in one place then it’s somewhat safer,” Grasso said.

Senior Grace Warner is strongly opposed to closed campus.

“Open campus [helped me] escape the school for a little bit, to calm down and forget about classes and hang out with my friends instead of being trapped in the lunchroom,” Warner said.

“When I had open campus last year, it felt really nice that the school thought I was responsible enough to make my own decisions and leave,” she added.

With a closed campus, junior Paisley Truitt feels trapped in the school.

“We’re already at school for so many hours a week,” she said. “When you feel like school isn’t a choice, like it’s being forced upon you, you feel extremely discouraged as a student… because you just feel like [the administration] is trying to pressure you because they don’t trust you as a person, as an individual.”

Grasso believes that students who can drive are most affected by closed campus.

“If you’re someone who’s used to having open campus and having that sort of freedom, then I can understand why you’re angry,” Grasso said. “Right now I’m more or less apathetic because I don’t have a car, but when I get my license I think my opinion will change because I was looking forward to being able to leave and get lunch, things like that.”

Students have noticed that closed campus, along with mandatory academy, has made the school more crowded than before.

“Now there’s more people in the library than what there normally would have been, especially during academy and study hall periods,” Grasso said.

“It feels more chaotic in the school during the middle of the day; it’s like people don’t know where to go,” Truitt added.

Both Truitt and Warner mentioned that using ID cards to regulate those entering and leaving the building should be an option.

Srithai is aware that many students are unhappy with the decision to close campus.

“[Many students] feel that we’re taking a certain degree of freedom away from them, which I’ll admit, but at the same time we as the adults have to make the decisions that are in the best interests of their safety and well-being,” he said.