High‑school digital hall/bathroom pass system draws board questions on access, equity and logistics

District staff demonstrated a digital 5 Star hall and bathroom pass system now in use at Casa Grande and Petaluma High and accessible to junior highs. Presenters said the system creates a time‑limited digital pass (default 7 minutes), allows teachers or kiosks to issue passes (students generally use Chromebooks, not phones at Casa Grande), provides administrative oversight for students who exceed limits, and can incorporate medical accommodations (IEPs, 504s) and teacher overrides.

Presenters said the system also supports safety and accountability: real‑time dashboards let administrators know who is out of class in case of emergencies, and discipline staff can identify misuse patterns. Trustees asked whether the limit and pass quotas could hinder access (for example, when bathrooms are full or broken) and whether teachers could use passes as an academic penalty. Staff said teachers retain discretion, substitutes should be trained, kiosks can reduce burden on teachers, and medical exceptions can be built in for documented needs.

Board members asked staff to disaggregate athletics survey results by sport, expand outreach to boost survey participation, and consider kiosk rollout and substitute training as short‑term improvements. Presenters agreed to refine the communications plan and update the board on implementation and equitable access across sites.