St. James collegiate principal apologizes, reinstalls girls’ washroom door

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This article was published 20/01/2023 (1007 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One day after sparking outrage and privacy concerns by removing the door to one of two girls’ washrooms at St. James Collegiate, the school quickly reversed its decision and has reinstalled the barrier to prying eyes.

“We apologize for any undue upset that may have been caused with the temporary removal of one washroom door yesterday and we thank the community for their patience and understanding as we continue to navigate some new and difficult issues,” reads an email sent to families Friday by principal Lorelei Steffler.

The measure, taken in an effort to stop what St. James-Assiniboia acting superintendent Jenness Moffatt called “congregate vaping” in the washrooms, put the stalls in full view of anyone passing by in the hallway. A ceiling security camera is mounted just outside the entrance to the facilities.

Some students at the high school said they felt exposed and vulnerable, in some cases fearing for their safety. The other female-specific washroom was locked Thursday.

Some students paid for privacy at neighbourhood stores and restaurants that charged a fee for the use of their facilities.

One of the two boys’ washrooms in the school was also locked, but the other’s door was not removed.

Students and parents weren’t told in advance of the decision. Late Thursday, Moffatt told the Free Press that alternate facilities — gym change rooms and a gender non-specific washroom — were available to girls who didn’t want to use the doorless facilities.

In a statement Friday, Moffatt said the school division would “continue working with all parties to ensure all students have respectful access to school washrooms.”

“I want to thank the community for their feedback and varied perspectives, both positive and negative,” she said in an email.

A student who set up an Instagram account Thursday to publicize the school’s action was happy the effort forced the administration to reinstall the door.

“I think the staff were (worried) that it was going too far because they wanted to be hush about it,” the student said in a social media message.

The account quickly drew more than 120 followers; its first post, featuring a photo of the washroom with the stall doors clearly visible from the hall received more than 300 likes and about 100 comments.

“I was relieved to see (the door) back up there,” another student said.

One of the parents who reached out to the Free Press was critical of the response from administration, saying it “didn’t really say anything of any real substance.”

“Prior to the door coming down they should have been sending out emails… telling us parents about how serious the (vaping) issue is and what’s been put on the table as a preventative measure,” he said in a text message.

“Instead they went for it and thought no one would mind.”

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca