Students must use keycards to gain access
LINWOOD — Mainland Regional High School has taken two steps to alleviate anxiety and animosity throughout the building.
No. 1, Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone reported to the Board of Education on Feb. 21 that recently distributed student IDs have both a bar code and chip used to identify who is using the lavatories and when as a way to cut down on misbehavior.
No. 2, he said the IDs provide access to every student bathroom in the building unless the privilege is revoked.
“Students who display behavior such as vaping or hanging out will have their cards shut down for not using them appropriately and can use the public A hall bathrooms,” Marrone said, noting they are constantly monitored.
He said the district took the step of securing its restrooms because of complaints about people misusing them, noting they already have seen an improvement.
“Since we’ve done this beginning last week, we have heard less concerns about the lavatory and more positives,” he said, noting it was creating animosity between those who behave property and those who do not.
“It’s lovely, it’s absolutely amazing,” student representative Anila Noushin commented about the new refreshing atmosphere.
Marrone said the change has reduced the anxiety some were feeling about using the lavatories.
“I know it sounds silly, but in a school with 1,200 people that’s really important and it has worked out in our favor,” he said.
Reached after the meeting, Marrone said students who lose their privilege of using any bathroom can get it back “after demonstrating appropriate behavior for a designated amount of time.”
He said the time would depend on the crime.
“The designated amount of time would be based on the offense that led to the removal of the privilege,” Marrone said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff