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Board begins exploring single‑occupancy restrooms to improve privacy and safety
Summary
Trustees and staff opened discussion about modernizing secondary‑school restrooms into single‑occupancy stalls with shared handwashing areas (floor‑to‑ceiling doors, occupied indicators) to address privacy, vaping and supervision; students surveyed reported 84% would feel safer with the design and staff will pursue cost estimates and pilot locations under Measure S modernization.
The Redondo Beach Unified School District board on Feb. 10 discussed a proposal to modernize secondary‑school restroom facilities into single‑occupancy stalls with shared handwashing areas as part of Measure S modernization planning.
Facilities staff presented rationale and examples. The new concept would use floor‑to‑ceiling stall doors with occupied/vacant indicators, shared handwashing areas visible from busy circulation spaces, and the ability for staff to unlock a stall if there is a health or safety concern. Facilities staff said the open handwashing area allows passive supervision while ensuring privacy inside each stall.
The superintendent’s advisory group of students completed an informal online survey (19 middle and high‑school students: 13 female, 6 male). After learning about single‑occupancy designs, 84% of surveyed students stated they would feel safer using single‑occupancy restrooms, district staff reported. Trustees and the student board member noted tradeoffs: improved privacy and fewer misbehavior incidents versus potential space and throughput concerns during short passing periods.
Trustees asked about vandalism, vaping and the risk of two students entering a stall together; staff said cameras would monitor the handwashing areas (not inside stalls) and that pilot locations would be chosen to balance supervision and capacity (Seahawk Bowl and high‑use restroom locations were suggested). The district will engage architects to produce cost estimates and lay out pilot options, returning to the board with recommended sites and budgets under the bond modernization plan.
What’s next: Staff said they will seek architect estimates and identify pilot locations, then report back with cost and scope for Measure S consideration.
