Scott Avenue TK teacher says lack of nearby restroom creates safety and ratio concerns; district staff say planning underway

Jessica Will, the transitional kindergarten teacher at Scott Avenue, told the East Whittier City School District Board that her classroom lacks a restroom nearby and that the omission creates safety and compliance concerns.

"My students' safety, my ability to do my job effectively, and our compliance with state mandated ratios is still at risk," Will said during the citizen communication portion of the meeting. She said she had followed the district's chain of command, that parents had received responses while she had not, and that the issue will grow more urgent when transitional kindergarten expands to include 3-year-olds next school year.

Will asked the board to provide an immediate solution such as constructing a restroom near the classroom, providing an age-appropriate portable restroom, or funding a second instructional aide so the class can maintain a 1-to-12 adult-to-student ratio while students use facilities.

District staff later told the board they have begun planning for TK expansion and had met with principals to discuss classroom placement and toileting needs. A district speaker said principals will bring detailed facility maps and that the district has sought input from transitional kindergarten instructional aides and will form a committee to outline a plan for the 2025-26 school year.

No formal board motion or vote was recorded on the restroom request; the transcript records staff direction and notes that the district will meet with the teacher and continue background work. The teacher requested an immediate remedy; staff described ongoing planning and a forthcoming update to the teacher and union representatives.

The issue was raised during the public-comment segment of the meeting; it was not part of the formal consent or action agenda but the board and staff described follow-up steps.