Board member urges consistent stocking of menstrual-product dispensers; staff says funding is available

During the May 21 work session, board member Miss Moseley raised a recurring operational issue: in some schools dispensers for menstrual products had been installed but were not consistently stocked, which she said was affecting students' access to education.

Miss Moseley said she reviewed contract documentation indicating a prior budget and contract for stocking dispensers and estimated a possible additional need of about $135,000. "Those dispensers are not stocked and it is impacting students education, as they have to miss class to find other spaces or not even come to school due to, not having access to period products," she said.

Cornell Brown, chief operating officer, said staff had received Moseley's email and investigated with custodial services. Brown said the district has funding to procure products but that site-level decisions — and problems such as vapes and hygiene products being shoved into plumbing — had led some schools to choose different stocking approaches. "It is not an issue of funding," Brown said. "We have the funding to buy the products. But we were experiencing some on-site issues where some decisions were made in some of the restrooms not to stock. We're working with custodial and administrators to ensure we have the appropriate products stocked in our dispensers." He added staff could implement signage and engagement actions if the board wanted that strategy.

Miss Moseley said she raised the question to ensure it was not a budget omission and to press staff to stop the practice of uneven stocking. District staff said they would identify whether signage or additional engagement is needed and follow up with the board on next steps.

The discussion did not result in a formal motion; it was recorded as part of the board's broader budget work session and staff committed to follow-up with custodial teams and school leaders.