Why are all of these updates happening to Johnson now?
Most of these updates are scheduled now because it’s time for Johnson to receive general building maintenance. Johnson High School was built in 1963 and many of the original parts/systems have reached their life expectancy and need to be replaced. These construction projects will ensure that the Johnson building is efficient and supports the learning needs of our students. See Johnson’s renovation plans here.
Why install new bathrooms at Johnson?
The installation of the new bathrooms was prompted by student, staff and community feedback from the Facilities Master Plan community workshops. SPPS Facilities Department also prioritized bathrooms in Johnson’s renovation plan because the plumbing system has not been replaced since the building was constructed in 1963.
What do these single-occupancy bathrooms look like?
See the bathroom plans here.
Why install these single-occupancy bathrooms?
The new bathroom design concept was created in partnership with the SPPS Facilities Department, a local design consultant and Johnson students through five focus group sessions. These bathrooms will replace the dated plumbing system and increase the amount of toilets by at least six. All bathrooms in the building will be changed over to the single-occupancy model which will be more inclusive for all people.
- The new single-occupancy bathrooms will be easily accessible, brighter, cleaner, safer (easier to monitor), and more secure.
- The new single-occupancy bathrooms will be easier/friendlier for families to use during community events (siblings taking younger siblings to the bathroom).
- Johnson will be the first school in the district to move to a single-occupancy bathroom model, but this may be replicated throughout the district and nation-wide.
What makes these single-occupancy bathrooms more safe?
- The single-occupancy bathrooms allows for improved visibility on all individual toilet room doors.
- Teachers and staff can view all rooms from the hallway, unlike the current model that prevents staff from seeing activities that occur in the bathrooms.
- The single-occupancy bathrooms will be built with floor to ceiling walls and doors, with locking hardware to indicate if the room is in use.
You say these bathrooms are more private. But are they too private for high school students?
The single-occupancy model prevents students from having the ability to “hide” from peers and staff in the building.