At North Port High School, students face a daily challenge that is both unfair and contrary to the school’s mission statement, and we need the community’s help to make a change! 

The 2,500 students at NPHS have only two restrooms available for regular use. The other restrooms are locked due to security issues, limiting accessibility and causing students significant stress and inconvenience. 

This has created many problems for the students. Students are being marked tardy to class when forced to traverse long distances between classes just to find an open restroom, or because the available toilets are overcrowded, preventing students from arriving to class on time. 

Students who are not permitted to, or refrain from, using the restroom during class time in order not to miss crucial instructional time, put themselves at health risks.  Specific medical issues have already happened because of NPHS’s bathroom situation..

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, who often need more frequent or private access. Locking bathrooms that prevents an accommodated student’s access risks legal violation.  Resulting lawsuits could cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees alone.

Intending to make school safer by monitoring and cutting down vaping, drug use, and fighting in the bathrooms by locking all but two of them have instead created a learning environment not conducive to success. Statistics show that when students have access to necessary facilities, attendance and performance improve (source: CDC, 2019). Ensuring bathroom accessibility is a small change that can lead to significant improvements in student well-being and educational success.

We urge the administration of North Port High School to unlock all student bathrooms. 

To address safety and security concerns, we propose the hiring or appointment of dedicated staff to monitor each bathroom, ensuring they are safe and secure for all students. This approach maintains safety and respects students' rights and needs for basic amenities.

By signing this petition, you are advocating for a just and mission-aligned change at North Port High School. Together, we can create a supportive environment that respects and meets the fundamental needs of every student. Your signature can make a difference—please sign and support our students.