Students tell Downingtown board to adopt free menstrual-products policy after survey finds gaps in access

Two students told the Downingtown Area School District board on July 8 they want the district to adopt a policy to place free menstrual products in middle- and high-school restrooms.

"Free menstrual products in bathrooms shouldn't be a luxury," said Mahi Bati, a rising senior at Downingtown STEM Academy, and presented results from a student survey of 208 respondents. Bati said 70.7% of survey respondents reported using toilet paper or paper towels instead of menstrual products when none were available, 72.1% reported bleeding through their school clothes, and 54.4% said they had left school or missed class because of product unavailability. She asked the board to ensure products are available in all bathrooms, including gender-neutral restrooms, and to provide a variety of product types and sizes.

A second rising senior from Downingtown STEM Academy, who did not state a name during her two-minute comment, thanked the board for moving the policy forward and reiterated the survey findings, saying more than 90% of surveyed students support free menstrual products and noting the outcomes (embarrassment, anxiety, lost instructional time) that students reported.

Board materials show Policy 246.1 (menstrual products) is out for 30-day review; the board did not take a formal vote on the policy during the July 8 meeting. Students and others in the room asked the board to consider product variety (pads and tampons in different sizes) and to make supplies as accessible as toilet paper or soap.

The board listed the policy among three items out for review and scheduled follow-up meetings; the regular board meeting is set for Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the James E. Watson Staff Development Room.