Bathrooms are locked at ACHS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bathrooms are off-limits during the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes of each class period (which are about 80 minutes). At other times, there are only enough staff to monitor some of the bathrooms, so unmonitored bathrooms are locked for safety. More staffing would be ideal of course… no one is claiming otherwise! But in the meantime, locking unmonitored bathrooms is the safest course of action.

This is the exact same policy as our diverse Loudoun HS. Principal claims its due to vaping. So why are we not punishing the vapers instead of punishing the kids who just need to pee or change a tampon!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m just thinking… how many staff members could have been hired with the money ACPS spent sending the entire communications office to a conference this summer? (Per the ACOS social media feed.) Plus who knows how many other boondoggles may have happened. That money would have been better spent on people, and then maybe kids could use bathrooms.

Don't forget the hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) spent on consultants for the ACPS Equity for All 2025 initiative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bathrooms are off-limits during the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes of each class period (which are about 80 minutes). At other times, there are only enough staff to monitor some of the bathrooms, so unmonitored bathrooms are locked for safety. More staffing would be ideal of course… no one is claiming otherwise! But in the meantime, locking unmonitored bathrooms is the safest course of action.

This is the exact same policy as our diverse Loudoun HS. Principal claims its due to vaping. So why are we not punishing the vapers instead of punishing the kids who just need to pee or change a tampon!

Because you have to catch all of the kids doing drugs in the bathroom. You can't do that if streams of students are entering and exiting all at once during transition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weird, and to think people criticize me for being upset we can't afford private school.

This is kind of a self report more than anything.

[Anonymous]

I asked my son about this yesterday, and he said he is generally able to us the bathroom at Minnie, subject to some constraints about the time during the class period that students are allowed to come and go.

But obviously if someone has a medical constraint that would render that non-workable for them, they need an accommodation, not to wear depends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m just thinking… how many staff members could have been hired with the money ACPS spent sending the entire communications office to a conference this summer? (Per the ACOS social media feed.) Plus who knows how many other boondoggles may have happened. That money would have been better spent on people, and then maybe kids could use bathrooms.

Don't forget the hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not more) spent on consultants for the ACPS Equity for All 2025 initiative.

Ah yes. And probably more on other initiatives…

[Anonymous]

Students with medical issues are typically given access to the nurse’s bathroom under their 504 plans.

The staffing issue isn’t entirely due to lack of funding. on any given day several of the FUNDED hall monitor or SSO positions will be vacant because we.can’t.fill.these.positions. Same reason several school buses are late every day… too many FUNDED driver positions are vacant. Some classes still don’t have teachers… including core classes like math and science. The positions are funded but vacant.

Indirectly, though, misplaced funding priorities are part of the problem. Staffing shortages are exacerbated when employees (and potential employees) perceive that the pay is too low. They choose other employment instead.

[Anonymous]

The staffing issue isn’t entirely due to lack of funding. on any given day several of the FUNDED hall monitor or SSO positions will be vacant because we.can’t.fill.these.positions. Same reason several school buses are late every day… too many FUNDED driver positions are vacant. Some classes still don’t have teachers… including core classes like math and science. The positions are funded but vacant.

If this is the case, the only solution I see is to raise taxes or cut other spending, and increase salaries.

[Anonymous]

Teaches lost pay steps in the spring and over the pandemic and apparently that's why so many positions are vacant. Veteran teachers are leaving over this

Anonymous wrote:

The staffing issue isn’t entirely due to lack of funding. on any given day several of the FUNDED hall monitor or SSO positions will be vacant because we.can’t.fill.these.positions. Same reason several school buses are late every day… too many FUNDED driver positions are vacant. Some classes still don’t have teachers… including core classes like math and science. The positions are funded but vacant.

If this is the case, the only solution I see is to raise taxes or cut other spending, and increase salaries.

[Anonymous]

They should keep one boys and one girls restroom in a central place monitored and open at all times. This is just cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should keep one boys and one girls restroom in a central place monitored and open at all times. This is just cruel.

+1. Did anyone else get the message about the vandalism in the restrooms at GWMS? "You are receiving this message because your student requested to use the restroom today." Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the schools can hire restroom attendant independent contractors to work for tips like in nightclub restrooms. Set up a table for hairspray, combs, lotion, tampons, mints...

But, depending on the school, a "bouncer" may be more effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should keep one boys and one girls restroom in a central place monitored and open at all times. This is just cruel.

+1. Did anyone else get the message about the vandalism in the restrooms at GWMS? "You are receiving this message because your student requested to use the restroom today." Seriously?

This is terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should keep one boys and one girls restroom in a central place monitored and open at all times. This is just cruel.

+1. Did anyone else get the message about the vandalism in the restrooms at GWMS? "You are receiving this message because your student requested to use the restroom today." Seriously?

What does that mean exactly? Parents are informed anytime their child asks to use the restroom?

This bathroom situation in ACPS is bordering on inhumane. It really is dehumanizing to have to justify taking care of basic toileting and bodily function needs. Are kids supposed to start going to school in diapers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the schools can hire restroom attendant independent contractors to work for tips like in nightclub restrooms. Set up a table for hairspray, combs, lotion, tampons, mints...

But, depending on the school, a "bouncer" may be more effective.

They could have a dual role of bus monitor and bathroom attendant to cover varying needs between morning, school day, and afternoon. I do think there’s a need!