Jacob, a student council representative, presented survey results and written concerns gathered from students. He said the polls covered school start times and sleep, attitudes toward free lunch, personalization of meals, school size, homework volume and the New York State electronic‑device policy.

Jacob summarized common themes: short five‑minute passing periods, concerns about a mandatory lunch format versus a wellness period, too much homework, blocked educational/music sites, vaping in restrooms, temperature control in classrooms and traffic/parking concerns. He also said about 300 students had petitioned for Diwali to be recognized; Jacob said, “Diwali … is a traditional Indian holiday, otherwise known as the festival of lights,” and noted that the petition was timed with the holiday.

Board members and staff praised the presentation and discussed next steps. Several members urged using targeted follow‑ups with student groups, offering smaller focus groups or committee participation to dig into issues such as lunch format and what a free‑lunch policy would mean for food service. One board member suggested using student volunteers to help refine questions and gather more representative input from middle and elementary grades.

Jacob said he received 438 high‑school responses in 24 hours, with fewer middle‑school responses, and that he planned to meet with building principals to share results while protecting student privacy. The board encouraged continued pulse surveys and recommended cross‑reporting results to relevant committees so that student feedback can inform policy discussions.