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East Rockaway students urge shorter homework, more indoor-recess options and walk‑in academic help
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Summary
Members of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council presented survey results asking for shorter daily homework limits, expanded indoor-recess activities and pilot 'walk-in' math and writing labs; the board heard the student recommendations during its April 28 meeting and thanked student ambassadors for their work.
Student ambassadors from kindergarten through 12th grade presented results from a district Superintendent Student Advisory Council survey at the April 28 East Rockaway Board of Education meeting, urging changes including shorter homework expectations, more indoor-recess options and a pilot program of walk‑in academic help.
"My name is Avery Motherway. I surveyed kids in grades K through 2," the fourth-grade ambassador said, summarizing that K–2 students largely preferred 5–15 minutes of homework, with the slide shown to the board indicating 75% favored 5 minutes in one cohort. Other elementary and middle‑school presenters reported most peers felt homework time matched expectations or suggested modest reductions.
High‑school representatives said older students also weighed in on scheduling and course offerings. John Giannaccio, a freshman ambassador and student representative on the Education Foundation, said most ninth- and tenth‑grade respondents opposed an earlier 7:20 a.m. start time and favored a later 8:50 a.m. start. Charlotte Webster and Michael Tizzio reported students want more electives, including language and health‑science options, and suggested dedicated supervised spaces for 'off periods' to reduce congestion in common areas.
Students recommended program changes to improve daily experience: Dylan Brown reported 59.8% of surveyed students wanted the TV on during breakfast, and multiple presenters proposed more hands‑on and partner work in class. Middle school representatives Rory McNichols and Georgia outlined support for a math and writing "walk‑in" lab where teachers could provide drop‑in assistance before or after school.
Superintendent De Tomaso framed the presentations as part of a three‑year advisory effort that regularly surveys peers and carries forward recommendations. "This is their work," De Tomaso said when inviting board questions, and he told principals and teachers to "take out your pens" because many suggestions originated with students.
Board members praised the student ambassadors during member comments. The board did not take immediate formal action to adopt specific policy changes; several ideas (start times, elective expansion, walk‑in labs) were presented as recommendations for administrative follow‑up.
Next steps: the board encouraged continued student engagement and said administrators would review survey findings for program planning in the coming school year.
