There is nothing more tragic than staring at the same cafeteria options all year round during lunch while knowing so many fast-food and restaurant options are just a short drive away, waiting for us. I swear I can hear the food taunting me when I have to stay on campus.

Our high school is technically a closed campus, but if we’re honest with ourselves for a second, it basically isn’t. Our campus parking lot is in a constant state of overflowing, and as more students get their driver’s licenses, it’s only going to get worse. And because of the fact that so many students have cars, and it’s nearing the end of the year, kids tend to leave during DEN and lunch anyway. The only difference is that right now, when someone leaves, no adult actually knows where they are. Teachers assume students are somewhere on campus, when in reality they might be grabbing a milkshake, sitting in a drive-thru or in the worst case scenario, just gone. That’s not ideal.

An open campus would actually make things more predictable. If a student is missing during lunch or DEN, staff could reasonably assume they left campus for food instead of trying to play the equivalent of “Where’s Waldo?” with the students. Knowing that students are allowed to leave is safer than pretending they aren’t already doing it.

Oh, the things I could say about DoorDash. A closed campus doesn’t stop students from wanting outside food; it just brings a parade of delivery drivers onto campus every day. Open campus? Fewer random adults wandering around, fewer delivery mishaps and fewer students sprinting across campus because their order says “arrived.” Sounds like a win to me. Not to mention that ordering DoorDash costs an arm and a leg.

There’s also the small detail of happiness. Having more food options makes people happier. Happier students are more focused, less cranky and less likely to be mentally checked out for the rest of the day. Plus, letting students leave for lunch teaches independence. In the real world, jobs give you lunch breaks. College campuses don’t lock you in. Learning how to manage time, responsibility and a lunch run without disappearing forever are great skills to get started on while in high school.

Finally, an open campus supports local Cedar Park businesses. Instead of money going to delivery apps, it stays in our community. Students get better food, local restaurants get business and the school gets fewer hangry students. Everyone wins.

Opening the campus wouldn’t unleash anarchy; it would just admit what everyone already knows: students are leaving anyway. So instead of sneaking around like fast-food fugitives, let’s make it official, keep it safe and maybe even let students come back to class a little less hungry and a lot less grumpy.