Petaluma City Schools staff described a district‑wide adoption of the 5‑Star digital hall and bathroom pass system at the high‑school and junior‑high level during the Nov. 18 board meeting. Presenters said the system aims to reduce hallway wandering, provide real‑time oversight of who is out of class, and allow administrators to see expired passes and patterns of misuse.

Staff explained key points: students create passes on district Chromebooks (phones are blocked at some sites), teachers generally require acknowledgment before a pass is granted, most sites use a 7‑minute default pass, students are assigned two passes per day but teachers can override that limit, and exemptions can be configured for medical needs or IEP/504 accommodations. Some sites retain a physical pass for visual verification by campus supervisors.

Trustees and commenters asked whether the system could limit urgent restroom access if bathrooms are full or out‑of‑service; staff said teacher discretion and override remain available and administrators are exploring notification mechanisms to flag impacted bathrooms. Trustees also asked about substitute teachers and kiosk options; staff said kiosk devices are being considered so substitutes need not rely on students’ devices. Short staffing of campus supervisors was raised as a limiting factor for supervision during peak times.

Why it matters: The policy touches student dignity, health and equity. Trustees asked staff to ensure procedures protect students with medical needs, keep substitutes trained, and address staffing gaps that could undermine supervision goals.

What’s next: Staff will continue to refine kiosk options, work with tech to explore real‑time bathroom‑status notifications if feasible, and integrate medical/IEP exceptions into the pass system. Trustees asked for follow‑up information on substitute training and a plan for communicating the system to families.