High‑school renovation shows progress; cafeteria restroom design prompts public concern
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Summary
District updates show steady progress on high‑school additions and MEP work, but several public commenters and board members raised safety and notice concerns about new single‑stall cafeteria restrooms and recent flooring issues.
The board heard a detailed construction progress report on the high‑school renovation and then moved into an extended public discussion about finishes, cleaning products and restroom design.
The construction project manager said demolition and structural work are well under way: center‑core demolition was completed over the winter break, steel framing and drywall are in progress, mechanical rooms are enclosed and long‑lead equipment (rooftop units, boilers/chillers) has scheduled arrival dates. "A lot’s been happening this past month," the project presenter said while highlighting recent drywall and MEP milestones.
Public commenters and several board members raised two technical concerns tied to recent installation work: visible scratches and apparent finish defects on flooring and a question whether cleaning chemicals or installation methods contributed to those marks; staff said they had engaged the manufacturer for testing.
A separate and more contentious exchange focused on the design of new cafeteria restrooms. Several public speakers and at least one board member asked whether the new restroom cluster — five single‑stall toilet rooms accessed through a shared sink/vestibule area — was presented and approved as a unisex or single‑stall configuration, and whether the public had adequate notice during prior design briefings. Opponents framed the issue as a mix of safety and privacy concerns; proponents and the superintendent stressed that the renovation schematics had been public and described security and sightline measures designed into the overall cafeteria plan and staffing strategy.
The superintendent responded to public questions by saying the renderings and schematics had been presented to the public during the planning process and asserted that the design and safety measures were deliberate: "This was presented almost two years ago ... There’s nothing hidden," he said, asking critics to review the previously posted materials.
What happens next: staff said they will share manufacturer testing results regarding the flooring, clarify where restroom schematics were posted, and continue to refine access and monitoring plans for large‑group spaces. The board directed staff to follow up with specific documentation and to prepare further detail for the next operations report.