Students and parents press district on lunches, guidance, bathrooms and playgrounds

Several students, parents and alumni used public comment to raise facility and student‑services issues at the East Ramapo Central School District meeting.

A student speaker said current lunch options are "unappetizing" and urged the district to offer more nutritious, varied meals. Another speaker asked the board to add shade, seating and a garden next to Chestnut Ridge's cafeteria so students can eat outside in warmer months. A separate elementary‑age speaker, whose mother spoke for her, requested additional playground swings at Marquez Elementary.

A public commenter who had participated in the district's alumni day said many 11th and 12th grade special‑education and bilingual students "felt unprepared for transitioning to college" and that some seniors had not met guidance counselors despite being midway through the year. The commenter called for more college visits that highlight athletic, music and arts programs and asked the district to develop supervised supports for suspended students so suspensions do not leave students without instruction.

Another speaker described staff‑and‑student bathroom problems at multiple buildings, saying some bathrooms "haven't been updated properly" and that children avoid restrooms due to persistent odors; the speaker linked the conditions to student health complaints including urinary tract infections.

Alumnus Randy Davis encouraged students to attend board meetings and offered to hold an assembly on college life; Tony Stevens, president of the East Ramapo Teachers Association, thanked the district and board for negotiating and approving a new teacher contract and said the union looks forward to "a productive and collaborative relationship with the district."

District officials responded to the comments in several places. A board member said some cafeteria and uniform concerns are being addressed in conversations with the athletic director and food service; transportation issues and cafeteria seating redesigns were said to be part of the superintendent's forthcoming budget. The district reported recent upgrades at Chestnut Ridge — new windows and doorways — and said there are designs to reinvest in cafeteria spaces in middle and high schools. The superintendent said professional development, staffing and program funding will be central to the 2025‑26 budget and that the district will present those proposals in the coming weeks.

The board did not adopt immediate policy changes at the meeting on these matters; trustees and staff said many of the requested improvements will be evaluated and prioritized in the budget process and in targeted facility projects.