Two open-concept bathrooms built as part of a new extension in Brushy Creek Elementary have caused concern among parents, who saw them just one day before their children began school.
The restrooms upstairs and downstairs are without doors separating the male and female sides and are visible from the hallway. Paper towel dispensers and sinks are accessible to both male and female students. There are doors on each stall, but each has gaps which parents have expressed concern about.
Laura Morin, a Brushy Creek parent, told Texas Scorecard that she saw the restrooms during a supply drop-off and asked a teacher if she knew the reasoning behind the design.
“She said the teachers all asked the same question when admin did the tour with the teachers,” Morin said. “Then she said ‘I’m not sure you want to hear the answer they gave us.’ I encouraged her to tell me and she said ‘Inclusivity.’”
Morin said she noticed that boys and girls could easily access each side of the restroom and pointed out that there are no urinals because of the privacy issue.
“My child has already stated she will not be using these bathrooms,” Morin said. “She stated that she will plan her bathroom breaks around lunch and PE when she’s back inside the old building and can use the more private bathrooms.”
Local Moms for Liberty chapter chair Christie Slape shared Morin’s photo of the empty bathroom on social media and received over a hundred comments from parents who questioned the decision to build the open-concept bathrooms.
“We have read hundreds of social media comments of parents wondering why RRISD did not consult the community prior to the design and build of this open-concept restroom,” Slape told Texas Scorecard. “Round Rock ISD prides itself on being ‘innovative’ and ‘inclusive’ at the expense of the majority of children and families.”
Parents also said they were concerned the bathroom layout would introduce gender ideology in school through the lack of boundaries between male and female students at an age when they are starting puberty.
“To me, this bathroom concept represents the progression of the left agenda to blur the lines between biological girls and boys,” posted Dr. Mary Bone, a member of the Round Rock ISD school board.
“This also represents why parents and grandparents must overs[ee] their local school boards and administration,” Bone said.
Round Rock ISD did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, the district is set to finalize a $1 billion bond package Thursday at the school board meeting for proposed projects like school extensions and maintenance.
Round Rock ISD Trustee Danielle Weston commented that there are both “wants” and “needs” in the proposal.
“This bond will be pushed on the false notion that it is free,” Weston wrote. “A billion dollars does not magically appear out of nowhere. The middle and lower economic classes will bear the brunt of this in their property taxes or monthly rent cost.”