“We now look more like a prison,” the posts caption said.
The post sparked outrage from parents and alumni of Springfield High School, with more than 30 comments and almost 200 shares.
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However, the district said bathrooms are open during lunch hours, and that the rolling doors were only recently installed in order to close the restrooms during certain times, most of which are after school hours.
“The lead principal and staff at Springfield High School, with the assistance of our maintenance department, recently installed rolling doors that allow for the restrooms near the rotunda to be closed during designated times,” said Springfield City School District spokesperson Cherie Moore. “The doors were primarily installed with the purpose of being able to shut down the restrooms in the back hallways during evening events and sporting events — when restrooms in the athletic wing are available for use.”
However, Moore said there have been situations during lunch periods where students, “have been disrespectful, vandalizing soap dispensers and air dryers.”
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“The administration is closely monitoring this situation, and if immediate behavioral changes do not happen, by all means, the luxury of having restrooms available in these proximities will be taken away and restrooms will be closed,” Moore said.
If restrooms are closed students will have to use the restrooms located in the academic wing before and after classes, Moore said.
“We have every reason to believe that our students will step up to the challenge with positive behavioral changes during the lunch period to keep the restrooms open,” Moore said.
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