We had a lot of students out of school today and we were not expecting it.

Not a lot of students from our region go to pharmacy school because they don't want to leave our region. If they do go, most go out of state. ... I think there are 22 schools closer to us than our state school. That was our impetus to get this college started.

But we also found out there are opportunities. There are hundreds of high school students who are not eligible for district busing. Metro could potentially pick up a need there. There are kids who are being transported by private cars.

We've reached over 7,000 students in 16 school districts within Westchester County who have received benefits from (the community outreach programs).

The solution is to increase the student counselor ratio at the schools. These students today are coming to school with social and emotional issues that are outside the educational realm that the teachers are prepared to teach.

It has to end. Our students need to feel safe in school, ... Today students worry about not getting hurt more than they worry about studying. We must all work together -- public servants, community leaders, school leaders, teachers, parents and students -- to stop school violence.