On May 23, the Boyertown Board of School Directors unanimously approves the fee proposal of KCBA Architects to undertake a conceptual study regarding the modification of toilet room and locker room facilities to increase privacy for students.
The contract, dated May 17, lists $8,920 as the fee amount for the study.
Boyertown Area Senior High School will be used as a prototype to explore strategies to increase privacy of toilet room and locker rooms to better accommodate all students.
The school district has made national headlines recently after a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a student who saw a transgender student changing in the same locker room.
Board member Stephen Elsier moved on the motion for the study, David Lewis seconded.
Prior to the vote, board member Jill Dennin asked if this was strictly a study and what other buildings would be involved.
“The study is going to start with the high school as a prototype,” said Superintendent Richard Faidley. “Based on what the conceptual study demonstrates, we would come back to the board with a presentation from KCBA architects to share their potential design to increase the privacy of our toilet rooms and locker rooms at the high school.”
If the design is successful at the high school level, it would potentially be used as a model for the district’s secondary schools. The $8,920 covers the cost of engagement with the architects for design services. Cost estimates for the actual design will be presented following the study.
Board member Christine Neiman questioned where the money for the study was coming from. Chief Financial Officer David Szablowski said the money is coming from the district’s Capital Projects Fund.
Once the study is complete and following the presentation, the board will be engaged for input.
Faidley explained how administration would like to involve the community in this conversation regarding privacy in locker and toilet rooms through focus groups.
Board members Donna Usavage and Jill Dennin addressed who would be involved in the focus groups. Usavage said she would like the be assured, when referencing the community, that the health and physical education teachers are involved since those are individuals overseeing students in those facilities. Dennin suggested having students involved since it’s their school and their private facilities. Faidley said both would be included.
The recommendation was unanimously passed by the board, 9-0.
