School locks washrooms after vandalism issues in Mississauga

A Mississauga high school has locked most washrooms during class hours after vandalism issues.

For just over a week, students at Cawthra Park Secondary School have found most of the washrooms closed as they hurry between classes.

“I go to Cawthra Park Secondary School, and recently they’ve made this insane decision to leave only two washrooms open during class hours,” Grade 12 student Mohammed Hilal told insauga.com.

Hilal says around Nov. 16, staff posted signs on the washroom doors and since then there have been huge line-ups.

“There was a pileup of 20 people because they all wanted to go in there and they were all worrying they were going to be late to classes,” he says.

The sign on one door informs the students of the decision.

“Unfortunately, due to frequent washroom vandalism, we will need to close washrooms during times when they cannot be supervised,” the sign on one washroom reads. “Please use the washrooms on the 2nd Floor near the office during class times. All washrooms will be open during lunch. Please report any vandalism to the main office. Thank you.”

In a statement to insauga.com, the Peel District School Board indicated the choice to lock washrooms was a safety issue.

“Cawthra Park Secondary School administrators have been working to ensure the school is safe, and bathrooms are available and meet the needs of students,” the statement reads.

This means that during class time and after school hours, all-inclusive, single-stall washrooms along with two full bathrooms (each for males and females with multiple stalls) outside the main office on the main floor are open, the statement notes.

The rest of the washrooms are locked until just before school starts and at lunchtime.

“We work hard to create and foster learning environments and school spaces that are caring, safe, accepting and equitable, and rooted in the respect, dignity and the inherent worth of all students so they can reach their full potential,” the board statement reads.

Hilal admits there have been problems in the last year with graffiti, doors being torn off, soap dispensers being stolen, and once smoke that set off an alarm.

“However, forcing a school filled with 1,200 students to use just two washrooms is crazy,” he says.

Another student, who doesn’t wish to be named, says Cawthra Park is one of the best schools in Mississauga.

“I still think Cawthra is a great school with amazing programs that are led by fantastic teachers,” he says.

But he says there’s always been a problem of huge groups gathering in washrooms and vaping and doing other things, like many schools, he says.

Now that students are forced into just a handful of washrooms, other issues are coming up. In the past, if a student felt uncomfortable or nervous about a large crowd of older students gathered in the washroom, they could always walk out and go to a different washroom.

Students don’t have that option now.

He says he just saw a Grade 9 student bolt out of the washroom that was full of older students.

“I feel like this decision has made students feel less safe,” he said.

Hilal thinks there should be another solution.

“I understand we have an issue but this can’t be allowed, the school is in dire need of more funding to deal with this issue and closing the washrooms is no way to deal with it,” he says.