Students from East, South and Central high schools used public comment to describe the Jay Foundation's impact and urged peers and community members to check in on one another.

"The Jay Foundation is such a crucial experience to be involved in when you're a senior in high school," said Shay Prime, a senior at East High School, who told the board the program raises awareness about suicide and "crushes the stigmatism of suicide." Prime said the program taught students it is "okay to not be okay" and "okay to reach out."

Other seniors echoed that testimony. "They gave us a lot of great responses on ... how do we address these tough topics," said Heath Johnson of East High, who described small-group conversations the program used to teach checking in on peers. Reagan Allen said the presentation "opened my eyes" to community supports and urged other students to participate.

Superintendent Doctor Newton Boyd told the board the district had 603 seniors receive boots during the October presentations and thanked the local coordinators and funders. "It's easy to see how well the event went," Newton said, noting local fundraising enabled the program to operate and to provide boots for seniors.

Trustees and staff described the program as emotionally powerful in several sessions; staff noted the outreach required months of local coordination. Board members encouraged continued community support for the foundation and praised the teachers and local organizations that funded and hosted the presentations.

No board action was taken on the public comments. Students and board members urged continued local support for mental-health resources and noted that community donations and volunteer time make such programming possible.