New bathroom policy during class time at High School introduced

Supt. cites damaged bathrooms, student behavior between classes

By Neil Zolot

Everett Public School Superintendent William Hart and High School Principal John Braga are introducing a new bathroom policy at the High School. “It’s a policy of closing off bathrooms during class time,” Hart said at the School Committee meeting on Monday, September 15. “Students can go if needed at other times.”

Bathrooms will have locked grates because they have no doors, but bathrooms are available in the nurse’s office and on the bottom floor of the school at all times, but students must adhere to the “10-10” rule, under which the bathrooms are locked during the first and last 10 minutes of 80-minute classes. Outside of those times, they are unlocked and accessible.

Bathrooms on the first floor will be open throughout the day, and at least one set of bathrooms will be open on each floor during lunch. Bathrooms in the nurse’s office are also open.

If a student needs to use the bathroom during the locked periods they can ask their teacher to contact an administrator to unlock it or ask for assistance from a staff member near the bathroom to unlock it. “If students need to get to one right away, we’ll open it up,” Braga said.

The policy was recommended last year by former Principal Dennis Lynch, who is now the Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, to ensure student safety and ease transitions. “We decided to do this after looking at school safety in other districts,” Hart said.

Hart thinks the policy will decrease use of the bathrooms as places where students gather, slowing them down on the way to classes and lowering damage. “We spent $40,000 on broken toilets and sinks at the High School last year,” he reported.

“It helps during transition time,” Braga added. He also said adjustments may be made over the course of the school year, including if the 10-10 rule should be a shorter or longer time.

Other business

In other business, Hart introduced new General Counsel Brackett Smith to the School Committee. Smith just moved to the area from Washington, D.C., where he worked in various state local and local government agencies. He is a graduate of American University in Washington and the West Virginia University College of Law. He is pursuing a license to practice law in the state while he is practicing under a license from Washington.

“I’m happy to be here with you all,” he said. “I look forward to working with you.”

The School Committee also met new Student Representative senior Emma Perry, who succeeds Kelly St. Fort and is also Treasurer of the Class of 2026 and captain of the varsity cheerleaders. “We’ve had a great start for the school year,” she reported. ”Although we miss Mr. Lynch and [retired assistant principal] John Sutera, we welcome Dr. Braga and vice principals Mr. [Rob] DiLoreto and Karen Hughes.”

She also thanked the Guidance Department for their work in helping students transition to new grades and transferring classes when necessary, and reported that representatives from Virginia Tech University were at the High School.

School Committee member Robin Babcock said she’s known Perry since she was five. “I’ve watched her grow up and she’s a great speaker,” she said.

“I’m sure she’ll give all students a tremendous voice,” Hart added.

In Public Comment at the beginning of the meeting, Everett Teachers Association president and Parlin School teacher Kimberly Auger thanked Hart and the School Committee for “an amazing start of the school year. Our students were able to have an amazing first two weeks of school. It takes a village. We all worked hard to put it together, and our buildings were ready for us and the administrators welcomed us with open arms. I look forward to an amazing year.”