The New Seating Sit-uation

Ariel Lee
Sep 24
3 min read

Updated: Sep 24

By Sarah Perez Sep. 24 2025

In order to increase seating availability and improve students’ overall quality of life during non-class times, last year's Associated Student Body (ASB) executive officers, the student council and the school’s administrators put forward a $52,000 proposal to add 17 new benches, which came from the accumulated ASB general fund.

ASB members noticed how students were separated from each other, often scattered among different classrooms and hallways and missing opportunities for connection with peers. Because students were not allowed to sit in the cafeteria, sitting on the ground in between buildings and classrooms were some of the only options remaining: many had resorted to sitting on gym clothes, backpacks and even textbooks.

“We wanted to create an opportunity for kids to be outside, because when kids are eating on the floor or sitting in classrooms, there are not as many opportunities to connect beyond their own group. In general, eating while sitting on the ground is also not an overall positive experience,” Senior Hope Tran, ASB Executive Officer, said.

The details were discussed in student council meetings, where students representing each grade and subject voiced their opinions on the benches’ placement. As the student body is the direct beneficiary of the benches, ASB wanted them to be directly involved in the decision process. After three monthly meetings, Activities Director Meg Walsh collaborated with San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) to put the idea into action. The student council’s proposal was edited by the district to comply with building regulations and the Americans with Disabilities Act—the number of benches decreased from 21 to 17 for electric and plumbing safety, and some tables were modified to have three seats instead of four for wheelchair accessibility.

“We did not have much choice about the cost of construction, since the district decided on contractors and the bench manufacturer—the expense was a big sticker shock for us as well. Delivery, assembly, installation, insurance, labor costs—they summed up to $52,000. It is great to see them already all used by students during lunch and breaks,” Walsh said.

The benches were installed in summer 2025 after a year of planning. There were 17 additions: 12 square tables with four seats along the sides which are able to accommodate larger groups, three large rectangular benches outside the cafeteria and two single benches near the student parking lot.

“The new benches are great because they provide students with more clean places to sit instead of the ground. However, I am not a fan of the design because the benches are floating, so I cannot lean my backpack against it,” Junior Leo Yoon said.

Although the new addition resolved various issues like cleanliness and safety to a certain extent, areas of improvement still remain.

“There is so much competition for the tables—most are already occupied before we even get there; only the single benches near the trees are occasionally available. However, even if we cannot have benches for everyone, the changes we have seen already are definitely worth the price,” Junior Bellina Tatarov said.

Although competition for tables remains, they have fostered a more lively lunch environment, letting chatter thrive and friendships deepen. The process has marked the school and ASB’s continued efforts to improve the student experience, and the impacts will continue to benefit future classes to come.