South Western SD board asks district to uncover windows on gender-neutral bathrooms

The South Western School District school board discussed this week the latest on gender-neutral bathrooms in the middle school that sparked backlash from some community members when the district cut windows into the front wall.

The updates came during a board meeting Monday, where members discussed whether or not to remove the plywood that currently covers the Emory H. Markle Middle School bathroom windows.

The Buildings, Ground & Equipment Committee provided a quick update on signage for the bathroom. Previously, signage outside the bathroom said “gender inclusive”.

The committee said it has since replaced old signs with temporary, “Walmart supplied, generic signage,” which are ADA compliant and picture a man and woman. They have ordered a red, ADA compliant sign that simply says “restrooms” to replace the generic signage.

Per legal counsel, the committee said it also ordered signs for each “unit” in the bathroom that indicates toileted-space or urinal space.

As for removing the plywood that currently hides the window, most council members present Monday said they were in favor of doing so.

Board members reasoned that removing the plywood from the restroom would allow teachers more “oversight” into the wash area of a bathroom available to all students, including both male and female.

Board members also discussed consistency across district bathrooms. In the high school, for example, council members said the wash areas of each bathroom are already visible from the hallway. Those bathrooms don’t have windows, but instead are without a front wall.

Several board members tossed around the idea of eventually removing the front wall from the middle school bathroom, too.

Concerns were voiced, however, that the increased level of oversight in these particular middle school bathroom should also be common across all middle school bathrooms—something other board members said could be possible in future renovations.

Ultimately, five of seven present board members said they are in favor of removing the plywood in an informal vote, and they asked school administration to do so.