At Mills E. Godwin High School, bathrooms are being blocked for about two hours during the school day using metal security gates that stop students from entering. The picture above shows one of these gates placed directly in front of a restroom entrance.

On top of that, the digital pass system that students normally use to request permission to leave class and go to the bathroom is also blocked during that time. This means students can’t request a pass to go to another restroom either. Because of this, students basically have no way to access a bathroom for a large part of the school day.

Students spend most of their day at school, and being able to use the bathroom when needed is a basic need. When bathrooms are blocked for long periods of time, it can make students uncomfortable, stressed, and distracted in class. Instead of focusing on learning, students are stuck worrying about when they will be able to use the restroom.

This can also be a bigger issue for some students, including those with medical conditions or other health needs that require them to use the bathroom more often. Schools should make sure students can take care of basic health needs without unnecessary restrictions.

According to standards from the Virginia Department of Education, schools are supposed to provide restroom facilities that are accessible to students during the school day. The Virginia Administrative Code 8VAC20-780-320 explains requirements for restroom facilities in school buildings. Completely blocking bathroom entrances for long periods raises concerns about whether students are being given reasonable access to these facilities.

We understand that the school may want to manage bathroom use for safety or supervision reasons, but completely blocking bathrooms and the pass system for hours at a time isn’t a fair solution for students.

We are asking the administration at Mills E. Godwin High School and leaders of Henrico County Public Schools to review this policy and make sure students have reasonable access to bathrooms during the school day.

Students deserve a school environment where their basic needs are respected so they can focus on learning instead of worrying about whether they’ll be able to use the restroom.

Relevant regulation:
Virginia Administrative Code – Restroom Areas and Furnishings (Section 320)https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title8/agency20/chapter780/partIV/