We are writing as current and former Princeton High School students and athletes because we have recently heard criticism of the Board of Education for approving the construction of a restroom facility next to the high school fields. We want to express our support for the bathroom facility because we believe it will be incredibly helpful to all students, particularly student athletes.
This bathroom facility was approved by Princeton voters as part of the $26.9 million referendum from 2018 and was identified as the highest athletics priority by many parents and families.
This is because having this facility is a matter of convenience and equity. Taking 10-15 minutes to go to the school building to use sanitary facilities is a challenge when you are competing and particularly difficult for those in a wheelchair or with limited mobility. The new restrooms will be accessible and connected to plumbing and stocked with sanitary supplies, including menstrual products.
This restroom facility includes three bathrooms: a woman’s restroom, a men’s restroom, and a gender neutral restroom. We believe that this is setting an important precedent in our district of including gender neutral bathrooms on all of our facilities, so that nobody has to feel uncomfortable or unsafe using a restroom. This is something we strongly urge the district to do at the middle and elementary schools as well.
This restroom facility is not only for athletes. It will benefit all students because even non-athletes often go outside for large portions of gym classes, depending on the season. The project is set to be finished by spring of this school year and it is more than possible that our community will still be grappling with COVID-19 at that point. With COVID concerns, having access to facilities with soap and running water on the fields, both for PHS athletes and for opposing teams, is more important than ever.
According to our athletics director, Princeton High School is the only school in Mercer County without a comparable facility, even though ours, when complete, will be among the smallest.
We understand that this might not seem at first glance like a top district priority. However, as mentioned previously, the bathroom facility was part of the referendum and as such, received the approval of a majority of Princeton voters when it was put out for a vote. The money for this project has already been set aside and cannot be used for anything other than referendum projects. And the bathrooms came at a cost that is well under what was previously estimated.
Rather than questioning why this project was included in the referendum, we should be celebrating the fact that we are addressing needs that align with so many of our district’s and community’s priorities and values.
Charlie Biggs ‘20
Shoshi Henderson ‘21
Ananya Lahiri ’20
Brian Li ’17
Mindy Li ‘19
Katie McDonnell ‘20
Kenia Morales ‘20
Raisa Rubin-Stankiewicz ‘20
Shane Spring ‘19
Princeton High School students and alum
