From September 5th to the 13th, the restroom facilities at Desert Oasis High School were temporarily separated by gender due to the absence of campus security monitors. Although some students expressed frustration, they had not yet heard the administration’s perspective on the matter. 

Mr. Dos Santos, assistant principal at DOHS, explains, “it has to do with supervision. The way that the restrooms have been treated in the past, in terms of vandalism and behavior issues, it’s in everyone’s best interest to have supervision nearby for all the restrooms open.”

Desert Oasis High School typically provides a minimum of three open restrooms for each gender. However, at times, students may find it challenging to locate the available restrooms, as the schedule for restroom accessibility varies based on campus security staffing levels and other factors. 

“The opening and closing of the bathrooms will be based on if your classmates have damaged bathrooms so there will need to be repairs or if it is not safe for students to use it due an incident,” Mrs. Miller, DOHS assistant principal, commented. 

Starting on Thursday, September 14, 2023 restroom facilities will be situated in the 1000s, 600s and athletics for all genders. Please note that this arrangement may be subject to change in the coming days, weeks, or months. 

Mark Divera, DOHS campus security, commented, “Keeping the bathrooms clean, it’s a privilege and an honor to have many restrooms. Unfortunately a few sour apples ruined it for everyone.”

A permanent restroom solution at Desert Oasis high school remains pending, underscoring the school’s commitment to addressing these challenges and ensuring a safe environment for all students. 

According to Mrs. Cryer, facility staff member, no bathrooms are inoperable and all bathrooms are cleaned everyday regardless if they are open or not.