(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – In response to students using school restrooms for vaping, and even bullying threats and vandalism, Marysville High School had changed its policy for restroom use as of the new year. The Appeal-Democrat reports the new restrictions include students being required to be excused from class to use the restroom, request a pass provided by a teacher, then go to the assistant principal’s office and change-out the teacher approved pass for an ‘office restroom pass’ at which time, the student then waits for a school security guard to unlock the restroom-facility. As well, the new policy allows only one student in the restroom at a time.

However, reaction from some students and parents has been overwhelmingly negative, as the paper reports they feel they’re being punished for the negative actions of a few.

In response, Principal David Vujovich tells the paper the average time for a restroom trip was “two and half minutes.” However, ssome tudents and staff claim it’s actually more like “10 to 30 minutes.” As well, only one restroom at Marysville high School was available – to only one student at a time – out of five in the building, causing some students to reportedly even leave the campus to use a restroom.

In response to the fallout from the new policy, Principal Vujovich announced that as of Monday, students no longer need to sign in at the assistant principal’s office. Instead, they will go directly to the available restroom and sign in with a security guard who unlocks the door.