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Northampton student survey finds gaps in mental-health awareness, food quality and support services
Summary
Student advisory council presented survey results from about 230 respondents showing notable gaps in awareness of school mental-health resources, mixed reactions to school food (average quality score 42/100), and persistent concerns about portion sizes and access to counselors. Students asked the committee to add bullying questions next year.
The Northampton School Committee on June 11 heard the student advisory council present findings from its annual student survey, which drew roughly 230 responses this year and flagged several areas for follow-up.
Student representatives told members about awareness of on-campus mental-health resources: roughly 65 respondents indicated they were certainly aware, about 105 said they were somewhat aware, and 59 said they were not aware. The presenters said only about 11% of students reported meeting regularly with an adjustment counselor and that about 68% had never met with one, a finding they said suggested students might be unaware of how to access services.
The survey also reported on school food. Students gave meal quality an average rating of 42 out of 100 and many respondents cited portion sizes as too small (118 students chose "too small"), while 55 said they do not eat school lunch. Presenters said the district should better publicize what constitutes a full reimbursable meal and encourage students to take the fruit/vegetable required for a meal claim.
Other results: 62% of respondents had heard of the community closet and about 16% reported having used it; a new option to order food from the closet saw very limited use this year but prompted restocking. Interest in dual-enrollment options was evident: roughly 23% said they would “definitely” take a Smith College course before graduation; responses for HCC/Westfield dual-enrollment were lower but notable.
Committee members thanked the students and asked administration to work with the council to improve year-to-year response rates, add bullying and cyberbullying items to next year’s instrument, and provide disaggregated breakdowns of questions (for example, by gender or by subgroup) before the next survey cycle. The student presenters asked that the committee and administration share survey findings more broadly with students and caregivers to boost awareness of available supports.
The presentation concluded with committee members urging follow-up on food portion information and clearer routing of students to counselors and mental-health supports.
