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Students tell board locked bathrooms and limited laptops hinder learning
Summary
Student speakers at the board meeting asked Cumberland County Schools to keep some restrooms unlocked and expand access to laptops and take-home devices, saying locked bathrooms and uneven technology access reduce instructional time and equity.
Three student leaders who addressed the Cumberland County Board of Education asked the district to change everyday operations that they say affect learning and student well-being.
“Bathroom accessibility may seem like a minor issue, but it has a significant impact on students' comfort, focus and overall well-being,” said Julian Urena, a senior and student-body president at Southview High School. Urena said several bathrooms are locked during the day, forcing students to walk long distances and sometimes causing students to be accused of skipping class when they are seeking an available restroom.
Urena recommended scheduled staff checks of bathrooms, keeping two bathrooms in separate wings unlocked with clear signage and implementing digital or color-coded hall pass systems so staff can verify students' movement without penalizing legitimate needs.
Sanai Lewis DeWalt, a senior and student-body president at 70 First High School, praised teachers who used varied instructional approaches and urged investment in teacher training and volunteer mentors to help students learn in different styles.
Ryan McFarland, a tenth grader at Jack Britt High School, was recognized earlier in the meeting for volunteer work and also spoke during the recognition portion; his remarks were not tied to policy changes.
On technology access, Urena said not all classrooms have enough laptops and students are not allowed to take school-issued devices home, which he said creates inequitable learning opportunities. He proposed consistent in-class laptop sets, loaner programs, or a pilot take-home device program with accountability measures; he also suggested extended media center hours before and after school for students without home internet.
The board received these student comments during the recognition and public-forum portions of the meeting and offered appreciation for the student presenters. No immediate policy votes to change restroom locking policies or device policies were recorded during the meeting.
