Dighton-Rehoboth High School’s Restroom Policy

Students at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School have been following strict guidelines regarding use of the building’s restrooms.

Principal John Gould explained the policy stems from “a handful of good kids making poor decisions in regards to vaping, vandalism, and threats within the bathroom.”

Last month, the Dighton Police were called to the school after threatening language was discovered on a restroom wall. Students and staff were required to shelter in place. It was later determined the threat was not credible.

Gould said the school has taken steps to address the problem, including:

• Maintaining a monitor in the hallway outside the bathroom
• Returning to a restroom sign in log
• Re-introducing the traditional hallway pass
• Exercising a one student out-at-a-time classroom policy unless there is an emergency
• Emphasizing the expectation that students, in most cases, should be back to their classroom within 10 minutes
• Having students - during passing - report to class, sign-in, and then come back to the restroom

“We do not want to ‘punish’ anyone but see these strategies as helpful in ensuring a positive school climate that is safe and free of threats, vandalism, and graffiti,” Gould added.