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Parents urge Medford Lakes Board to form DEI committee and fix restroom privacy, safety concerns
Summary
At the Nov. 15 meeting, parents and community members urged the Medford Lakes Board of Education to establish a standing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) committee, expand DEI training for staff and students, and to address restroom stalls that do not lock and sanitation issues in school bathrooms.
Medford Lakes — Parents and community members urged the Medford Lakes Board of Education on Nov. 15 to create a standing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) committee and to address ongoing bathroom privacy and sanitation problems at district schools.
“Kids will benefit from a DEI committee in school,” said Mrs. Wilson (Shields) during the public-comment period, calling for staff, parents and students to serve on the panel and for initiatives that go beyond Black History Month. Multiple speakers echoed that request: Mr. Zanotti said DEI training is needed for students and staff; Ms. Reilly (Kalinowski) cited a recent student suicide in the Mt. Holly area and asked what supports the board will provide so students can find “a place where they belong.”
Parents also raised operational concerns. Mrs. Lucania described problems with the APR bathrooms, saying, “One stall did not lock, one did not close - only one locks,” and reporting instances of urine and feces left in stalls. She asked the board to consider increased supervision or staffing and to examine how neighboring schools handle restroom monitoring.
Other commenters reinforced calls for inclusion. Mrs. Schneid said she hopes the district continues to move forward with DEI work and cited that “70% [of districts] she spoke to” have a committee; Ms. Prasis urged more inclusive language in school communications to acknowledge diverse family structures.
Board members did not take formal action on DEI or the restroom issues at the meeting. There was no recorded motion or referral directing staff to prepare a report or to place the matter on a future agenda. The session proceeded to routine business, including personnel and policy votes, and later moved into executive session.
Why it matters: Advocates said they believe a standing DEI body and targeted fixes to bathroom facilities would improve student wellbeing and inclusion; district leaders would need to weigh staffing, policy changes and budget impacts if they choose to create committee structures or increase supervision.
Next steps: The transcript does not record a board decision or timeline for the items raised during public comment. The board entered executive session later in the evening; no public vote addressing DEI or restroom repairs was recorded during the open meeting.
