Students from Andrews Middle School and members of the high-school Student Advisory Council took the floor at the Medford School Committee’s Nov. 18 meeting to describe how spirit week and modest changes to bus loading could increase student belonging and safety.

"The Andrews Middle School Spirit Week meant to me... for all my peers to come together and make memories," said Gianna Riccio, an eighth grader who spoke during the committee’s Mustang Moment, praising group costumes and teacher participation for making students feel included. Several other Andrews students described collaborative group-costume days and teacher involvement as concrete actions that helped them feel part of the school community.

Later, Student Advisory member Jayden presented a short slide set on high-school transportation. Jayden said the district’s recently installed single railing system at the high-school bus area created a bottleneck, and recommended adding two more railings, labeling which bus loads where and surveying students who ride the buses. "We want to implement two more railings...that way, more students will be able to access the buses at the same time," Jayden said, adding the council would consult the director of transportation and the MBTA and circulate a student survey.

Committee members welcomed the presentation. Member Entapa praised the students for using voice and choice to improve the school experience and volunteered to help with survey design; Member Graham recommended involving the district’s transportation coordinator and city partners in routing and budget discussions. Member Brantley raised concerns about car-drop logistics and urged designers to leave space for cars to pull up and for clear signage identifying bus stops.

District staff said students already had a draft survey and that building staff and a robotics club member were exploring real-time arrival displays and signage. Superintendent Dr. Agulusi (presentation lead) said the proposals were not final policy actions: they are steps students and staff will take together while the district evaluates feasibility and coordinates with the MBTA and city.

Next steps: students plan to finalize and distribute a rider survey, the district’s transportation coordinator will be asked to review routing and late-bus needs, and building staff will explore signage and additional railing fabrication options with local vendors.