I agree with this forum’s synopsis - and conclusion - that this comes down to just one issue: people. The people inside the school who are actually causing the problem. Jeff wrote:

“ some high school bathrooms are routinely vandalized so that they are frequently inoperable and others are used by students for vaping, fighting, and robbing other students. Schools have responded by closing many, if not most, bathrooms. This results in very long lines for the few remaining open bathrooms and students often don't have time to wait in line between classes or even at lunch. Moreover, some schools or teachers limit the number of bathroom passes they will give out, creating a situation in which students may be unable to go to the bathroom for the entire school day. Some posters say that this has led to medical issues with their kids. Much of the discussion focuses on what can be done about the situation. Some posters suggest contacting members of the school board or going to board meetings and testifying. Others suggest filing a lawsuit. There are suggestions for increasing security or supervision of the bathrooms so that they can be opened. Multiple posters issued pleas for any journalists that are reading to write about this issue. But, another poster pointed out that the Washington Post has reported on this issue in the past and nothing changed. Most of the issues seem to come down to student behavior. Since students know that bathrooms are almost the only “


Students are not behaving correctly.

Yet again, the solution here is obvious: prevail upon the decency and humanity of the young gentleman and ladies engaging in this incorrect behavior to conform their behavior and no longer destroy bathroom fixtures, stop robbing their fellow students of their possessions, and not engage in rape or drug use in school lavatories.

Why hasn’t anyone asked them?

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

Well, right now, that is what is happening INSIDE schools. We have had kids overdosing at multiple different schools already just this school year. And plenty of high school kids witness drug transactions inside schools.

Let’s at least move it outdoors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

I would also imagine that the school would need the permission of parents for smokers under 18, if that’s even legal. And if parents refused, the kid would just smoke in the bathroom anyway.

Permission? What? - does the school receive permission from parent of student under 18 to smoke INSIDE?

My kid comes home and spends an hour on the toilet with diarrhea and or constipation from holding it in each day. It's horrible especially when kids have their periods too. Known health crisis and they alway say "We're looking into it". It's ruined my kids digestive system. She tries to poop before school to try to avoid this and it actually is a problem if sports are after school. Sometimes she'll leave to got to a nearby coffee shop which believe it or not- has a line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

I would also imagine that the school would need the permission of parents for smokers under 18, if that’s even legal. And if parents refused, the kid would just smoke in the bathroom anyway.

Back in the day, there was often a wooded area near a school. If kids wanted to smoke pot, they ditched class and smoked there. It was not great for their future but at least didn’t bother other kids. No one policed that area. I do feel like putting posts in the bathroom saying “if you want to do drugs or smoke during the day, please just ditch class and go elsewhere. It’s super rude to use the bathroom for this. Don’t be an AH.”

exactly. minority of students (at least I'd like to think so, do we have data of how many students ?) causing problems for majority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

I would also imagine that the school would need the permission of parents for smokers under 18, if that’s even legal. And if parents refused, the kid would just smoke in the bathroom anyway.

Back in the day, there was often a wooded area near a school. If kids wanted to smoke pot, they ditched class and smoked there. It was not great for their future but at least didn’t bother other kids. No one policed that area. I do feel like putting posts in the bathroom saying “if you want to do drugs or smoke during the day, please just ditch class and go elsewhere. It’s super rude to use the bathroom for this. Don’t be an AH.”

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said remove bathroom doors, just the main door right? Not the stall door I hope. Isn't that already the case in ES? I don't think my kid's ES has a main bathroom door.

They’ve done this at some schools and it makes it worse. All the people vaping and in their phones by the sinks just move into stalls and then you really can never get a free stall to actually go.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

I would also imagine that the school would need the permission of parents for smokers under 18, if that’s even legal. And if parents refused, the kid would just smoke in the bathroom anyway.

Anonymous wrote:The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

Yep, it would have to be close to the school building where there are outside cameras. How do other places handle this, e.g medical facilities, museums etc.?

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said remove bathroom doors, just the main door right? Not the stall door I hope. Isn't that already the case in ES? I don't think my kid's ES has a main bathroom door.

Newer ES may have doors leading to toilets area and definitely stall doors, and a separate area for sinks dryer mirror. Last year a person mentioned their HS didn't have doors to the stalls (school took them out?) or taken out by student not sure.

To the person who said remove bathroom doors, just the main door right? Not the stall door I hope. Isn't that already the case in ES? I don't think my kid's ES has a main bathroom door.

The problem with on campus outdoor smoking area is it would become a haven for drug users, drug transactions and misuse.

Thank you PP for the summary.

I like the scanning ID card and idea. Every time an if us scanned, camera zooms in to capture the face. That will be useful if someone is assaulted or robbed with narrowing down suspects.

Also the idea of not allowing more inside than the number of bathrooms (some software for that when they scan the id card).

folks have proposed:

Hire or reassign more adults to manage bathrooms BA Adult or machine scans student ID card to enter BA
Install doorbell to BA, admin monitors remotely
Designate on campus outdoor area for smokers
Remove BA doors
Install detectors inside BA (for smoke etc)

PTSA advocate
Sue MCPS for lack of BA
Contact ACLU
Contact media to report again on BA
Contact pediatricians group to advocate
Have StudentMemberofBoard bring up concerns
Parents, students present concerns at BOE meeting
Contact MCPS medical officer
Contact Count Council to budget for BA "managers"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can the current SMOB or if next year's has already been selected bring up the concerns at next BOE meeting? What can the students who are also concerned do at this point? Write to the SMOB? Can a rep from the AAP testify at a meeting? Not that it should even be necessary but still it could help if presented from a medical standpoint.

SMOBs are children. They will fold and acquiesce to the more powerful adults. Don’t expect them to go against their fellow board members.

SMOBs are more mature than 95% of DCUM posters. And easily the match for most of our elected BoE members.

LOL
LOL
LOL
They get their money and run. Never, ever accomplish anything.

not very much money!

Highest paid BOE member.