Staff Weigh Closure of J-Building Bathrooms Following Fights and Vaping

Throughout the first semester, two fights have occurred near the bathroom in J building. Along with these incidents, teachers have also reported issues such as smoking and vaping. Some staff have discussed permanently closing the bathroom to prevent future problems. So far, the upstairs bathroom in J building has been limited to staff only because of these issues.

With hundreds of students moving between classes throughout the day, J building is one of the busier areas on campus. Bathrooms are often unsupervised during class time, which can make them gathering spots for students. Fights aren’t as frequent, but smoking is.

“We want to have a lot of bathrooms available so that during class kids have a close bathroom to go to so that they don't miss class,” said Vice Principal Nicole Heinlein. Having too many bathrooms closed can cause kids to go searching for another one, affecting their learning time, she explained. Heinlein noted that closing the J building bathroom is just a “bandaid fix,” recommending student education and limited bathroom use as more effective strategies.

John Pope, an English teacher in the J-building, explained that student misbehavior is the main reason the bathroom is being discussed. “Misbehavior by students including fighting and smoking” has raised concerns among staff, Pope said. While he believes closing the bathroom could help, he does not think it would fully solve the issue. “This is a big campus and there are always other places where people aren’t looking,” he said.

Anne Cook, another teacher in the building, shared additional concerns about property damage. Cook pointed out that custodians are heavily affected by the vandalism and mess students leave behind. She emphasized that most students are respectful and that only “a handful” are causing the problems.

Student Sofiya Cartagena noted that closing the bathroom would cause more problems than solutions. She explained that students with classes in the J building may need quick access to a bathroom, especially in emergencies. “Closing just the J building bathroom will not make a difference with fights or any other violence students choose to do,” said Cartagena, who suggests that more adult supervision is key.

Student Cami Yasutake agreed, stating that closing the bathroom would not address the root issues. “I don’t think the bathrooms need to be closed because people can go to other places to do those things,” she added. Yasutake suggested that stronger consequences for students involved in fights or vandalism might be more effective.

As staff continue to discuss the issue, the school must decide whether closing the bathroom will truly improve safety or if other strategies, such as increased supervision and stricter disciplinary measures, would be more effective.