AMHERST — Falling ceiling tiles, locked bathrooms with broken stalls and a class schedule that regularly drops a guided academic study and advisory period are among concerns Amherst Regional Middle School student leaders are bringing to the Regional School Committee.

“When we see our school in this state, this horrible condition, it makes us feel like the administration doesn’t care about our school or about us,” Lena Holcombe, who co- chairs the Middle School Student Council, told the School Committee Tuesday. “This may not be the case, but this is how it feels to students.”

“It hurts to see it deteriorating. It is not the students’ fault that our school is in this condition, yet we suffer daily because of it, with some people even being hurt by falling tiles,” added Sofia Contreras, who also co-chairs the council. “This is not fair to us, and must be addressed.”

Nora Hanna, the third co-chair of the council, said health risks may include the risk of black mold. “The ceiling tiles are constantly falling off, leaving gaping holes, and if they remain intact there are unsightly brown stains,” Hanna said.

While the physical condition of the building is a problem, it’s just one of several topics the students are asking both the School Committee and the district administration, including Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman, to address. The problem with the ceiling tiles and roof has been noted frequently, with a student injured by debris falling from the ceiling in March, and student council representatives of the freshmen class offering a gift of tiles that they suggest be matched with district funding.

One of the non-infrastructure concerns is the Day 7 schedule, which causes a guided study and advisory period, which Contreras said students use to socialize and team build with peers and teachers, to be lost on certain days. Contreras said students have been complaining for years about dropping this day, being unable to complete homework at home and having to stay up late at night, and that the schedule should be eradicated.

“Dropping Day 7 affects students because we cannot speak with teachers about grades or ask for help with assignments,” Contreras said.

In addition to the bathrooms being locked routinely, blamed on vaping and vandalism, Holcombe said there are only two functioning stalls per bathroom.

Hanna said the bathrooms also lack feminine hygiene products, no tampons or pads are being stocked and where dispensers exist students are expected to purchase with coins, even though most students and staff don’t carry change. “It is ridiculous that the school doesn’t attend to the needs of half its population,” Hanna said.

The students are also calling out what they see as unjust sports funding, with football having two sets of jerseys but other sports teams only having one set of uniforms, and recently implemented prohibition on teachers handing out candy and other treats, even though this can boost morale and make happier students.

Herman pledged to work with the students and staff. “We are committed to making sure the environment is one for learning and meets the needs of everyone,” Herman said.

There is an understanding that guided study is important because it allows students to do homework during the school day and to engage with teachers. But she cautioned that providing food outside breakfast, lunch and regular food service can be problematic, due to being mindful about allergies.

Members of the School Committee appeared receptive to the concerns brought forward by the student leaders.

“It is hurtful for me that it gets to a point where students come to tell us what we haven’t done,” said Amherst representative Irv Rhodes. “It is necessary that these kinds of conversations happen with all of us.”

“I am aware of how dilapidated parts of the middle school are, and it’s really regrettable,” said Sarah Marshall, also an Amherst representative. She said these issues don’t reflect a lack of concern about students, teachers or other employees, but she notes that the district is in a tough spot.

Amherst representative Deb Leonard said the feminine hygiene products for the bathrooms is critical and she will push the superintendent to ensure they are available for free in the bathrooms, not just in the nurse’s office.

Herman said she will place an order for dispensers in the middle school bathrooms and agreed that, if required, will make changes to how students pay for them.

But Herman said she also needs students to commit to a partnership so vandalism and vaping in the bathrooms will stop, and will ask for suggestions on how to do outreach that resonates with the students.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.