April 15, 2026
By Debra Ogunbowale
Webmaster
The three minutes between classes tend to be frenzied, with students rushing to their lockers and trying to make it to their next class on time. Keeping bathrooms open between passing periods would intensify this chaos.
First, keeping bathrooms locked reduces the risk of vandalism. Last summer, the school district invested time and money in repainting and replacing bathroom stall partitions, some of which had been repeatedly vandalized with graffiti.
When students crowd the bathrooms unsupervised, the atmosphere encourages bad behavior. With busy hallways, people could be hit by swinging doors, causing more traffic and delaying students’ arrival to class.
During passing times, unlocked bathrooms could become hangout spots, leading to overcrowding. This would make it hard to monitor what is happening inside and prevent students who actually need to use them from doing so. Vaping and bullying could also occur during these times.
Furthermore, restricted access helps students arrive at class on time. If students were to stop at the bathroom, they could get distracted, increasing their likelihood of arriving late to class.
Last summer, the school district invested time and money in repainting and replacing bathroom stall partitions, some of which had been repeatedly vandalized with graffiti.
Locking the bathrooms removes this temptation, so students can focus on getting to their classes and then ask their teacher for permission to fill out a SmartPass. This digital hall pass holds students accountable by tracking their whereabouts, creating a more secure environment both in bathrooms and across the school.
Locking bathrooms during passing times is not just a restriction but a necessary procedure. It prevents loitering and encourages responsibility, keeping the school clean, safe and productive.
