Board debates restroom redesigns and camera placement after $16,000 in vandalism; district to install vape detectors this summer

District safety staff and administrators led a discussion on restroom safety, describing a range of design options and the trade-offs between student privacy and supervision.

"We just want some guidelines... Do we need to have ceiling to wall stalls, or do we leave a little space for the venting?" one administrator asked as the district considered construction details. Tanya (safety lead) said she will visit a local charter school that retrofitted restrooms to see what worked there.

Administrators highlighted vandalism costs: district reports indicated roughly $16,000 in high-school restroom vandalism since January; that figure was cited as a motivating factor for both design changes and the pursuit of safety grants.

The district also reported being awarded approximately $90,000 in grant funds for vape detectors, which will be installed in high-school restrooms and locker rooms this summer. Officials said the detectors purchased are internet-connected and include sound detection for certain vandalism events; detectors can be reinstalled or rewired if restrooms are later remodeled.

Board members asked for a cost-conscious, replicable plan and recommended a pros-and-cons memo with sample designs and small pilot projects at the high-school level before wider rollout. Trustees emphasized the need to balance student privacy with safety and to consider replicability and costs for other buildings in future SIP or maintenance cycles.

No formal action was taken; staff will return with options and cost estimates.