At Medina Valley High School in Castroville, Texas, a peculiar and concerning practice has emerged: students are required to wear neon construction vests as bathroom passes. This system is not only humiliating and embarrassing for students but also poses potential safety, hygiene risks, and teters on a fine line of legal, civil, and personal privacy violations. First, let's consider the potential embarrassment and emotional distress caused by this practice. High school years are formative, and adolescents are particularly sensitive to peer perception. Being forced to wear a bright, conspicuous vest just to use the bathroom can heap unnecessary stress and deprive students of their dignity. This can lead to a decrease in morale and affect academic performance and mental well-being. As recently as 2023, a charter school in San Antonio began issuing universally identifiable female restroom passes known as a purple pass, specificallyfor menstruating female students. They came under fire legally for choosing such a glaring method to highlight female student's biological and personal need for restroom access. I would argue that a bright yellow vest highlights students in a similar fashion, calling immediate attention to their private need for a biological break regardless of gender. For students with any medical reason behind their request for a bathroom, particularly those who make frequent use of it-this could result in direct violations of their privacy and civil rights under federal education law and ADA/504 protections. Furthermore, from a health standpoint, these vests likely rotate between students throughout the day, increasing the risk of spreading germs and bacteria. With flu season and other communicable diseases already a concern in school environments, mandating the use of shared items such as these vests is both reckless and irresponsible. Additionally, the use of construction vests as hall passes does not contribute to a safer school environment. In fact, it can confuse school visitors and staff and detract from the serious attention that students and adults give to safety and security measures in place at the school. We understand the need for ensuring students are not leaving the classroom unnecessarily. And we acknowledgethe strict Texas mandates on knowing student locations at all times. But we believe there are more discreet, efficient, and sanitary methods to manage bathroom permissions. Options like sign-out sheets, electronic passes on student devices, or even simple card systems are safer, less embarrassing, and respectful of students' needs. We're calling on the school administration and the school board to immediately cease this practice and consider alternative solutions that prioritize the dignity, health, and emotional well-being of our students. Your signature can help bring about this vital change for the students at MVHS. Please join us in advocating for a more respectful and hygienic method of monitoring bathroom usage in our school. Sign this petition to end the use of construction vests as bathroom passes at Medina Valley High School.