Board praises student-led mental-health presentations and discusses formalizing student voice

Board members at the Toledo Public Schools meeting praised student-led presentations on mental health and discussed steps to formalize student participation in board activities.

Polly Taylor Gerken, reflecting on a recent student-led 'smart board' meeting, said the presentations emphasized destigmatizing mental health and "sound a lot like inclusion," adding that equity and diversity must be sustained in district efforts. Gerken suggested the family and community engagement committee and the policy committee develop a consistent process for bringing meaningful recognitions and presentations to the full board.

Sheena Barnes said students' mental-health presentations were powerful and urged the district not to erase marginalized identities from curriculum. Barnes described the board's role as uplifting student voices and noted specific student initiatives — including a sensory room at a high school, monthly workshops focused on mental health, and student podcasts — as models for broader student engagement.

Superintendent Dr. Durant and several board members acknowledged the staff and volunteers who supported the student presentations and noted plans to bring the district's 'smart student' representatives to a wider mental-health board event. One board member recommended that the family and community engagement (FACE) committee consider a resolution to formalize the student 'smarts' group as the board's official student voice, and to explore a student representative role for regular board meetings.

Board members emphasized that these efforts should be implemented in ways that preserve student leadership and provide consistent processes for engagement.